Invisible Polarization in Subjective Social Status: Two mechanisms determining class identification

• In Event: 2112 - Open Session for Rationality and Society

Abstract

Previous studies clarified that many individuals tend to attribute themselves into the middle class, explaining this tendency by referring to group reference theory. This study clarified the middle class tendency using a cognitive efficiency principle. People choose the middle class as a default answer without carefully considering their objective social status. To examine this explanation, the author analyzed data from the Stratification and Social Psychology Survey (SSP 2015) using finite mixtures of regression models. SSP 2015 was conducted in 2015 and investigated the social attitudes of Japanese people. The results of the analysis suggest that two mechanisms determining subjective social status coexist in that society. One generates the middle-class tendency and the other expresses clear class consciousness. Furthermore, individuals who are advantaged are more likely to adopt the mechanism corresponding to the middle class tendency, while those disadvantaged adopt a clear class consciousness mechanism. As more respondents adopt the middle class tendency than clear class consciousness, the middle class tendency conceals clear class consciousness. Finally, the implications of the findings of the study are discussed.

Author

• Naoki Sudo, Gakushuin University