Anatolia Batruch (University of Lausanne)

Advancing the psychology of social class with large-scale replications in four countries

Abstract: Theoretical models have been developed to understand how social class influences individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. However, the validity of these models is threatened by the prevailing use of small, nondiverse samples and flexible measurement practices. We pre-registered the replication of 35 key hypotheses from 17 correlational and five experimental studies, and collected large, quota-based or probability samples from the USA, France, Switzerland, and India (Ntotal = 33,536). Our analysis yielded three central findings: (i) ≈50% of the effects were successfully replicated, (ii) conclusions were consistent across different operationalizations of social class, although objective indicators yielded smaller estimates (e.g., income, education), and (iii) half of the effects were moderated—mostly strengthened—by either social-class identification, system-justification beliefs, or local income inequality. Overall, hypotheses based on differences between social class contexts in terms of constraints, uncertainty and status were well supported. However, hypotheses based on models positing social class differences in psychological orientations toward ‘the self’ versus ‘others and the environment’ received less support. We conclude that these models need to be reassessed as individuals from higher social classes seem more oriented toward both themselves and others.