Study: Rich people are stuck up???

[RalofTyr]

So, basically they've done a study that concluded what we already knew, rich people are stuck up. However, I bet if they conducted this study at your average high school, they'd have to concluded that everyone acted in an aloof manner, such as teenagers tend to fidget, groom themselves and exhibit all the traits of the Upper SES.

Also, if they researched a group of introverted people, they'd probably get the same results as the Upper SES group.

So I guess the next time you're out looking for funding for your project, if the guy in the Armani suit tends to ignore you, he's probably got money, whereas if the guy in the Armani suit is very interested in you, then he doesn't have a lot of money,...I guess.

Body Language Reveals Wealth
Jeanna Bryner
Senior Writer
LiveScience.com jeanna Bryner
senior Writer
livescience.com – Tue Feb 10, 1:05 pm ET

A flashy handbag or Armani suit can signal a person's wealth, but so can their body language, according to a new study. People of higher socioeconomic status are more rude when conversing with others.

Psychologists Michael Kraus and Dacher Keltner of the University of California, Berkeley, videotaped pairs of undergraduate students who were strangers to one another, during one-on-one interviews. In total, 100 undergraduate students participated.

The researchers then looked for certain gestures that indicate level of interest in the other person during one-minute slices of each conversation.

They found that students whose parents were from higher socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds engaged in more of what he called "impolite" behaviors, such as grooming, doodling and fidgeting. Lower SES students showed more "I'm interested" gestures, including laughter and raising of the eyebrows

The higher SES students fidgeted with nearby objects for an average of two seconds, while those from lower SES backgrounds almost never fidgeted during the 60-second clips. Upper SES students also groomed themselves for short stints while lower SES students didn't. Rather, the lower SES students nodded their heads, laughed and raised their eyebrows an average of one to two seconds more than their upper SES counterparts.

"We're talking seconds here, but that is a pretty big difference when you consider that we coded one minute of interaction time," Kraus told LiveScience. "So how many times a day are you nodding if you're lower socioeconomic status?"

It comes down to our animalistic tendencies, Kraus explained. Like a peacock's tail, the seemingly snooty gestures of higher SES students indicates modern society's version of "I'm fit," and "I don't need you."

"In the animal world, conflict arises when you're battling for status. So it's adaptive for us to avoid those conflicts and tell us we know 'I'm higher status than you, so don't bother having a conflict with me,'" Kraus figures.

Lower SES individuals can't afford to brush off others. "Lower SES people have fewer resources, and by definition should be more dependent on others," Kraus said.

The research is detailed in the January issue of the journal Psychological Science.

[publius]

Uh, I know some people who could buy and sell those Armani suit wearing types (well, they could buy them for what they thought they were worth and sell them for what they were really worth and laugh at the loss), and they ain't stuck up. You wouldn't know they were loaded, as they drive old cars and trucks and wear discount clothes until they wear out.

They are basically two types. Those who are rich, and those who want you to think they're rich. It's the latter that has got us in so much trouble, and the ones who pop up on the radar screens of such silly studies. Some old and wise types have always warned me to stay away from that latter bunch. Sage advice indeed.

-Richard

[KaiYeves]

Shouldn't this go in the "The Study Says... Nothing" thread?

[Buttercup]

Yeah, I read this article and...let's just say I've met nice people and stinkers from all walks of life and socioeconomic levels.

and those who want you to think they're rich. It's the latter that has got us in so much trouble, and the ones who pop up on the radar screens of such silly studies.

Years ago a former coworker went on and on about his boat...condo...wore gold nugget jewelry...dropped references to super-fancy dining establishments...on and on ala "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous." I guess he was working as a hobby?

[BigDon]

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Like anybody else, you have to get to know them AND there are a tremendous amount of professional grifters trying to scam them, so some people see defensivness and aloofness.

And just so everybody knows where I'm coming from I worked for years for a high end moving company, though moving company none the less. I moved a lot of very wealthy people. The kind that make you sign papers stating you will not discuss the contents of their houses.

Part of moving is inventoring the entire contents of their house, so you know it all got to the destination. I have a very well developed sense of what's my stuff and what's your stuff. And I clean up well. So I got a lot of the more interesting jobs. And I only talk about non-secrecy households too. In case anybody is wondering.

Part of the reason one thief on a crew will get the whole crew in trouble. You don't want to be a thief on my crew. I will remember thieves and don't take them on my crew. I tell the driver him or me. A day's pay isn't worth getting my house tossed by the feds. Interstate transport, touchy subject with those guys. No wiggle room for humor or errors.

With a couple of exceptions these people were the salt of the earth after you talk to them like people for a day or two. Most of the exceptions would have been just as unpleasant with 900 dollars in the bank as 900 million.

[mugaliens]

With a couple of exceptions these people were the salt of the earth after you talk to them like people for a day or two. Most of the exceptions would have been just as unpleasant with 900 dollars in the bank as 900 million.

That's been my experience with the rich, too, BigDon, albeit through different venues.

[sarongsong]

The study consisted of

...students whose parents were from higher socioeconomic status (SES) backgrounds...

Not quite the same as "the rich", in my book.

[Drunk Vegan]

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Like anybody else, you have to get to know them AND there are a tremendous amount of professional grifters trying to scam them, so some people see defensivness and aloofness.

I'm not sure I would agree that many wealthy people have lots of professional grifters trying to scam them. I would think that would require celebrity status of some sort.

And I'd note that the purpose of the study isn't to determine whether they're nice people or not, or if they're nice once you get to know them. It's to find out how people interact with strangers.

[Sam5]

So, basically they've done a study that concluded....

What would you expect from a UC Berkeley study? Try a Yale study.

[sarongsong]

Yale would do such a study?

[closetgeek]

The industries I have experience with are both directed towards the higher end folks of the economic classes. Some are snobs, some aren't. Some will offer you a beer and want to have a chat session when you first meet them, other's hire people for the sole purpose of dealing with us lowly peasants. I am guessing that the study started out with an idea and found evidence to support it. My experience is that the snobby folks, the one's that talk money and blatently look down their noses at you, tend to fall into Publius' second group.

[geonuc]

What would you expect from a UC Berkeley study? Try a Yale study.

UC Berkeley is an outstanding educational institution.

[Trantor]

Since the study was of college students from wealthy families, I would expect more stuck up behavior from them. Their parents or grandparents are probably the ones who actually labored to become wealthy, while the younger generation, was basically along for a free ride. I would bet that in general, the older folks who had a dream and then worked hard to achieve it, would not look down on normal class people at all. I remember reading an article years back, that stated that it was often the grandchildren(3rd generation) of wealthy people that thought they were above others, and expected not to do much work in life.

[Sam5]

UC Berkeley is an outstanding educational institution.

Well of course, but I'm reasonably sure that a similar study at Yale would turn up different results.

[filrabat]

There probably is a little more than a grain of truth to this one, although like all said, rich does not necesarily (or even mostly) mean stuck up. I've also seen stinkers at all socio-economic levels. Because of this, this applies to other kinds of snobbery - not just socio-economic based.

Believe it or not, even so-called "rednecks" have their own version of snobbery -- mostly snubbing people whom they perceive as weak, timid, "unmanly" (if a man), those who don't adhere to "traditional, down-home values" and/or "common sense" ways of thinking, eccentrics, and so forth (I know this is stereotyping just as well as you do, but while we're dealing with stereotypes of "rich folks" I figured I'd do some moderate stereotyping of "rednecks"). More than a grain of truth exist with "rednecks" too.

Same for the suburban/small town lower middle class (not even necessarily "redneck"). If you're not pursuing the "all-American" picket-fence lifestyle (2.1 kids, vacation to the beach, go to the opera or art museum, or have the latest and best car you can afford, or the "coolest" latest gadgets for your kids, or are in general part of a "tight-knit" attetion-and-praise-getting group)..then you're shut out of the loop. Also a stereotype with more than just a grain of truth.

In the end, socio-economic or lifestyle status isn't the issue. The issue is whether you can look past beyond other's considerably less-than-popular imperfections and treat others the way you want to be treated. Better yet, seek out people who are superficially markedly different from you and judge them based on their kindness and willingness to listen to others opposing viewpoints without strong judgementalism or contempt.

[gzhpcu]

I think being "stuck up" is a question of genes not wealth. I have a friend, who I met at the tennis club and is very rich. He bought George Harrison's home here in Lugano (recently made it even bigger), has fantastic villas in Baja California and Balstad, Norway. You would never know it. Very likeable, never flaunts his wealth...

[Disinfo Agent]

Rich people stuck up? Say it ain't so...!

[Click Ticker]

People associate with those that they can relate too and often appear uncomfortable around those that they can't. This can be perceived as snobbery or shyness depending on the appearance of the individual.

When I was younger, I was tall, fit and I cleaned up okay. I was not quick to warm up to people I didn't know. Rather shy in fact and if I didn't know what to say, I didn't say anything. I was written up at a job for being arrogant and acting like I thought I was better than the other employees. It was a position where I would fill in at various locations for the same company if people called in sick. I often was working with people I didn't know. Many times with people from backgrounds that I couldn't relate to or had interests that I didn't share. That particular location was a branch where the rest of the staff had worked together for a long period of time and talked to each other a lot. I didn't have anything to add to their conversation. I had class after work so I asked if there was anything else they needed before I left after close.

I've crossed paths professionally with a few of them since, and have gotten along quite well. The person who wrote me up didn't even remember writing me up, or that I had worked at their office for a day.

[Sam5]

People associate with those that they can relate too and often appear uncomfortable around those that they can't. This can be perceived as snobbery or shyness depending on the appearance of the individual.

We really need to be able to see a video of the interviews. The professors Kraus and Keltner seem to have set this up to get result they wanted to get in the fist place.

What does “grooming” oneself for “two seconds” mean? How is that being “stuck up”? How were the students selected so that Kraus and Keltner would be able to pair 50 rich kids with 50 poor kids? And who would want to do that anyway, unless they were aiming for a pre-determined result, based on the professors’ “interpretation” of what they observed.

[closetgeek]

We really need to be able to see a video of the interviews. The professors Kraus and Keltner seem to have set this up to get result they wanted to get in the fist place.

What does “grooming” oneself for “two seconds” mean? How is that being “stuck up”? How were the students selected so that Kraus and Keltner would be able to pair 50 rich kids with 50 poor kids? And who would want to do that anyway, unless they were aiming for a pre-determined result, based on the professors’ “interpretation” of what they observed.

I agree with you Sam, the behaviors interpreted as snobbery may very well just be learned behavior; being aware of appearance; not engaging in very stimilating conversation. It does sound like they just wanted to prove that people from higher SES's were snobs.

[Delvo]

The statement that some rich people are stuck-up and some aren't does not contradict the reported results of the study. In sociology, nothing is ever absolute; it's a science of trends and averages and distributions. So an even mix of people who do and don't fit any description yields an overall tendency of fitting it to half of the extent to which the "dos" do, which is still more than the extent to which the "don'ts" do; a mix of people whose scores on the stuckupness scale are 0 and 12 gets an average score of 6 stuckupness points, which is more than 0, so yes, the group overall is indeed stuck-up.

[Drunk Vegan]

What does “grooming” oneself for “two seconds” mean? How is that being “stuck up”?

The point is not that they were grooming themselves. Grooming, we can all agree, tends to be a good idea.

What's wrong with the picture is that they were grooming themselves while other people were talking to them. That seems rude to me - it indicates a lack of attention and apathy towards what is going on.

[LaurelHS]

What's wrong with the picture is that they were grooming themselves while other people were talking to them. That seems rude to me - it indicates a lack of attention and apathy towards what is going on.

It might just be a sign of self-consciousness. Someone might be feeling nervous about their appearance and so they're trying to smooth out their hair, adjust their clothing, etc. This kind of behaviour can also be a habit and so someone might not even realize they're doing it at first.

[sarongsong]

...they were grooming themselves while other people were talking to them. That seems rude to me...

Depending on just how, it could be meant or interpreted as flirtatious, too.

[Sam5]

Taa Daaaa, the actual report:

http://socrates.berkeley.edu/~keltne...us.inpress.pdf

[danscope]

Uh, I know some people who could buy and sell those Armani suit wearing types (well, they could buy them for what they thought they were worth and sell them for what they were really worth and laugh at the loss), and they ain't stuck up. You wouldn't know they were loaded, as they drive old cars and trucks and wear discount clothes until they wear out.

They are basically two types. Those who are rich, and those who want you to think they're rich. It's the latter that has got us in so much trouble, and the ones who pop up on the radar screens of such silly studies. Some old and wise types have always warned me to stay away from that latter bunch. Sage advice indeed.

-Richard

**********************
Well said, Richard.
Best regards, Dan

[NosePicker]

Bill Gates is filthy stinking rich. While merely filthy rich, an employee of his called the cops on him because she thought he was a bum. You see, she was new, and didn't know that Microsoft Bill had a habit of working into the tiny hours and then sleeping under the desk. She didn't know who this scrawny kid was and why he was sleeping under his desk.