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Cited by 1,397Social Power and Status DynamicsSocial and Intergroup PsychologySocial and Cultural Dynamics

Social class, solipsism, and contextualism: How the rich are different from the poor.

Kraus, Michael W., Piff, Paul K., Mendoza-Denton, Rodolfo, Rheinschmidt, Michelle L., Keltner, Dacher·2012·Psychological Review
DOI 10.1037/a0028756
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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.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0028756

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  • Chronic threats foster the development of a threat detection system, with the result that people who grow up in lower-class environments have heightened vigilance to threat.

    “These chronic threats foster the development of a ‘threat detection system’, with the result that people who grow up in such environments have a heightened vigilance to threat.”

    From The psychology of social class: How socioeconomic status impacts thought, feelings, and behaviour (2018) · cites this paper as Kraus et al. (2012)

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Authors
Kraus, M. W., Piff, P. K., Mendoza-Denton, R., Rheinschmidt, M. L., & Keltner, D.
Affiliations
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
ORCID
Venue
Psychological Review
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2012
Volume
119
Issue
3
Pages
546-572
ISSN
  • 0033-295X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1471
DOI
10.1037/a0028756
OpenAlex
W2084246693
Cited by
1,397
References
27
Citations by year
2026: 115 · 2025: 171 · 2024: 143 · 2023: 156 · 2022: 140 · 2021: 114 · 2020: 94 · 2019: 108 · 2018: 63 · 2017: 128 · 2016: 52 · 2015: 43 · 2014: 39 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 6
FWCI
118.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Review (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social Power and Status Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Cultural Dynamics
Keywords
social class, solipsism, contextualism, social rank, material resources, social cognition, self-perception, social environment perception, interpersonal relationships, individual liberty
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Attitude, Culture, Humans, Individuality, Interpersonal Relations, Models, Theoretical, Morals, Personal Satisfaction, Power, Psychological, Psychological Theory, Psychology, Social, Self Concept, Social Behavior, Social Class, Social Environment, Socioeconomic Factors, Personal Autonomy

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