title: Social class, solipsism, and contextualism: how the rich are different from the poor.
abstract: Social class is shaped by an individual's material resources as well as perceptions of rank vis-à-vis others in society, and in this article, we examine how class influences behavior. Diminished resources and lower rank create contexts that constrain social outcomes for lower-class individuals and enhance contextualist tendencies--that is, a focus on external, uncontrollable social forces and other individuals who influence one's life outcomes. In contrast, abundant resources and elevated rank create contexts that enhance the personal freedoms of upper-class individuals and give rise to solipsistic social cognitive tendencies--that is, an individualistic focus on one's own internal states, goals, motivations, and emotions. Guided by this framework, we detail 9 hypotheses and relevant empirical evidence concerning how class-based contextualist and solipsistic tendencies shape the self, perceptions of the social environment, and relationships to other individuals. Novel predictions and implications for research in other socio-political contexts are considered.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 603 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. mwkraus@illinois.edu
authors: Michael W
authors: MW
authors: Kraus
authors: Paul K
authors: PK
authors: Piff
authors: Rodolfo
authors: R
authors: Mendoza-Denton
authors: Michelle L
authors: ML
authors: Rheinschmidt
authors: Dacher
authors: D
authors: Keltner
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001290:Attitude; D003469:Culture; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009014:Morals; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011593:Psychology, Social; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors