Social Class and Professional Networking

Authors:

Abstract: Resource differences between social classes lead lower class individuals to form other-focused cognitions and upper class individuals to form self-focused social-cognitive tendencies. Lower class individuals have been found to be more cognizant of others in their surroundings and more engaged with their needs, compared to upper class others, who are more self-focused and self-interested. I hypothesized that individuals from different class backgrounds would feel differently about professional networking. Professional networking has a selfish intent when the person networking is doing so to gain career benefits. I predicted lower class individuals would have a higher level of negative affect and would express a greater need for cleansing after engaging in professional networking. The results of a vignette study suggest individuals from lower social class backgrounds felt more inauthentic after engaging in professional networking. Individuals from lower class backgrounds also showed a greater preference for a cleansing product.

Track: DEI

Keywords: Social class, professional networking, social class diversity