Modern Prejudice in Everyday Interactions

Perceptions and Behavioral Attitudes Toward Social Status

Authors

  • Youngwon Yoon Korean Minjok Leadership Academy
  • Kristina Seoul National University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i2.2500

Keywords:

Social Psychology, Social Status, Occupational Prestige, Prejudice, Stereotype, Discrimination

Abstract

Social status diversifies experiences. From personal achievements to interpersonal interactions, the disparity is often forged by individuals either deliberately or indeliberately. Regardless of the purpose, such actions entail stereotypes, ultimately reinforcing discrimination. This research aims at exploring a potential route through which status privilege socially pervades and solidifies: the perceptions of and consequent reactions to different occupations. Undergraduate students in South Korea participated in the study. First, participants read three chronologically invented scripts, conceiving of themselves as interacting with fictitious characters with either an upper- or a lower-status occupation. Next, they imagined their tentative attitudes as well as expectations of each character. Analyses revealed that participants reacted more favorably to the upper-status characters in the two of the three interactions. Furthermore, these characters were expected to be significantly more competent and intelligent than those with a lower-status occupation. Together, the findings spotlight one type of modern prejudice that may influence not only everyday communications but important decision-making processes.

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Author Biography

Kristina, Seoul National University

Advisor

M.A., Department of Psychology at Seoul National University

B.A., University of California, Berkeley

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Published

05-31-2022

How to Cite

Yoon, Y., & Zong, K. S. (2022). Modern Prejudice in Everyday Interactions: Perceptions and Behavioral Attitudes Toward Social Status. Journal of Student Research, 11(2). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i2.2500

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Section

HS Research Articles