Stereotypes and Social Decisions: The Interpersonal Consequences of Socioeconomic Status
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Date
2024-01-09
Authors
Hughes, Bradley
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Interpersonal perceptions of socioeconomic status (SES), those formed in face-to-face interactions, can perpetuate inequality if they influence interpersonal interactions in ways that disadvantage people with low SES. There is indirect evidence to support that SES is perceived accurately, elicits SES-based stereotypes, and influences interpersonal decisions but these effects and the underlying mechanism have not been examined in social interactions. This dissertation extends the study of the interpersonal effects of SES into real world social interactions between people from a socioeconomically, and otherwise diverse population. To study how SES impacts these interactions, I developed a novel computer mediated online round robin method (CMORR) that uses videoconferencing technology to recruit a diverse online sample. In Study 1, I describe the CMORR procedure and shows that impressions of personality traits formed in CMORR interactions are comparable to those formed in-person. In Study 2, I used CMORR to facilitate interactions among N = 297 participants from across the United States. Participants interacted dyadically in virtual rooms and then provided judgments of their interaction partner’s SES, personality traits, and the credibility of their consumer experience. The results showed that in these interactions perceptions of SES were accurate and elicited negative interpersonal stereotypes for people with low SES, in all 12 of the personality traits measured. SES was also associated with social decisions about affiliation, credibility, and sympathy, and these effects were mediated by the interpersonal stereotypes. I finish by discussing the implications for the interpersonal perpetuation of inequality and future directions for studying the interpersonal effects of SES.
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Keywords
Big Five, Interpersonal Perception, Social Decisions, Socioeconomic Status, Stereotypes