A new study published in Psychological Science has shed light on how socioeconomic status affects social interactions between people from different economic backgrounds. Researchers found that individuals with lower socioeconomic status were more attuned to their interaction partners, even when paired with someone of a different class. This increased sensitivity was reflected in their physiological responses and behavioral cues, such as clearer speech and reduced fidgeting.
Despite this greater sensitivity, participants consistently reported preferring interactions with people from similar socio-economic backgrounds over those from different classes. However, the study suggests that repeated interactions may be necessary to override these same-class preferences, and future research should explore whether designing cross-class interactions in a way that reduces social class asymmetries can improve their quality.
The researchers used a structured task format, where participants were paired with either someone of similar or different socioeconomic status, and monitored their physiological responses and behavioral cues. The results showed that individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more responsive to their partners, but this did not translate into greater social liking.
Limitations of the study include its focus on a specific region (San Francisco Bay Area) and racial composition, which may limit generalizability to other populations. Future studies should aim to address these limitations and explore how to promote comfort and connection across class lines in diverse settings.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/lower-income-individuals-show-greater-physiological-attunement-in-social-interactions