Populist psychology: How class division empowers autocratic leaders | Michele Gelfand | Big Think

TL;DR

Social classes perceive rules differently, with the working class viewing them as important for survival, while the middle and upper classes see them more negatively, as goody two-shoes.

Transcript

you know I think often we think about social classes just being about our bank accounts we don't sort of think about how is class cultural truly cultural in terms of differences in values and norms that are socialized in different groups for good reasons and and tightness looseness it doesn't just differentiate nations and states it also differenti... Read More

Key Insights

• 🏛️ Social class plays a significant role in shaping perceptions of rules, with the working class seeing rules as crucial for survival.
• 👶 Early socialization influences children's responses to rule-breaking, with working-class children being more likely to enforce rules.
• 📏 Support for leaders like Donald Trump is driven by the perception of threat and the desire for tighter rules to coordinate and survive.
• 😀 Tightness and looseness in groups are adaptive responses to the level of threat they face.

Questions & Answers

Q: How do social classes perceive rules differently?

The working class sees rules as important for survival, while the middle and upper classes view them more negatively, considering them goody two-shoes.

Q: Why do working-class children enforce rules more than middle-class children?

Working-class children are raised in more threatening environments, where rules are crucial for survival. This early socialization influences their response to rule-breaking.

Q: How does the perception of rules relate to support for leaders like Donald Trump?

People who feel threatened tend to support stronger rules and leaders, like Donald Trump. This is because they believe tighter rules will help them coordinate and survive in uncertain times.

Q: What factors contribute to the tightness or looseness of a group?

The amount of threat faced by a group determines its tightness or looseness. Threat can come from various sources, including natural disasters, population density, or invasions.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Social classes have different perceptions of rules, with the working class viewing them as important for survival, while the middle and upper classes see them more negatively.

• The working class faces more threats in terms of crime and unemployment compared to the middle and upper classes.

• Differences in perceptions of rules begin as early as three years old, with middle-class children being more likely to let rule-breaking go, while working-class children enforcing rules.