Eight- to 12-year-old US children's emerging subjective social status identity and intergroup attitudes

Abstract

Drawing on social identity development theory, this study investigated a socioeconomically diverse sample of 8- to 12-year-old US children's (N = 93) subjective social status (SSS), how they determined and identified with their SSS, and whether their own SSS related to their social preferences for individuals from other SSS groups. Children primarily referenced material resources, lifestyles, money, and relative comparisons when explaining how they determined their SSS. Although all children identified with their SSS ingroup and viewed it positively, higher-SSS children reported stronger identification with their SSS ingroup than did middle-SSS children. Finally, regardless of their own SSS, children liked higher-SSS individuals less, on average, than middle- or lower-SSS individuals. Overall, this study provides novel evidence for the emergence of SSS identity in late childhood and its early relations to SSS intergroup preferences.