Reference: Callaghan, B; Delgadillo, Q. M.; & Kraus , M. W . (2022). The influence of signs of social class on compassionate responses to people in need. Frontiers in Psychology , 13 . https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.936170 When a person is in need, how does their social class affect how ot her people treat them? A field experiment with approximately 4,500 people studied how signs of social class affect compassion towards those in need. In two major U.S. cities, pedestrians saw a person wearing either high or low social class symbols asking for money to help the homeless. Researchers measured how much money people gave. Pedestrians gave nearly 2 ½ times more money to the person wearing high - class symbols than to the one wearing low - class symbols. A follow - up study with 504 participants were shown images of the same person wearing either high - or low - class symbols. The study looked at what caused compassionate responses. Results? Higher - class symbols made people think the person was more competent, trustworthy, similar to themselves, and more human than lower - class symbols. These findings show that visible signs of social class affect how we judge others and decide to help those in need. Let’s move beyond the limits of status symbols and work together to create a fairer society by reducing biases! We can all benefit by increasing our awareness, encouraging empathy, and supporting social class symbols that are inclusive of everyone!

Written by Kristin M . Harris, Ph.D.