Effects of the working class label: increased affect and social class identification

Building on social identity theory and the sociocultural model of the self, we show that relatively lower-class individuals who value their social class identity (as activated by the “working class” label) experience elevated group identification and well-being. First, we found that social class identification significantly predicted self-esteem while controlling for traditional measures of social class (Study 1). Next, when primed with a working class identity, relative to a lower class identity, individuals from relatively lower-class backgrounds showed stronger group identification, endorsed more positive stereotypes about their social class group, and showed less negative affect (Studies 2a and 2b). Implications for conceptualizing social class as a valued group identity and its implications for the social class academic achievement gap are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2016

Author dc:creator

• Ondish, Peter R

• social class
• social identity
• affect
• well-being

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Peter Ondish

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89102

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/89102