TO BE AN ARTIST OR A DOCTOR? EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INCOME INEQUALITY, THE SOCIETAL PURSUIT OF HIGH-STATUS OCCUPATIONS, AND THE DESIRE FOR STATUS

Abstract

An increasing proportion of students are seeking to enter a narrow selection of high-status occupations, yet little research has examined this phenomenon. Accordingly, this research examined whether income inequality affects the societal pursuit of high-status occupations, and whether this societal pursuit of high-status occupations affects individuals’ desire for status. Higher income inequality was predicted to lead to a greater societal pursuit of high-status occupations, and a greater societal pursuit of high-status occupations was predicted to increase desire for status. Three studies were conducted to test the hypotheses, with Studies 1 and 2 analyzing large cross-national datasets, and Study 3 using an experimental design. Studies 1 and 2 revealed that income inequality positively predicted and temporally preceded the societal pursuit of high-status occupations. Studies 1 and 3 revealed that the societal pursuit of high-status occupations positively predicted individuals’ desire for status, with Study 3 providing causal evidence for the relationship. Additionally, Study 1 showed that the societal pursuit of high-status occupations mediated the relationship between income inequality and desire for status. The findings reveal the role of norms in shaping individuals’ values, and suggest a self-reinforcing loop involving the societal pursuit of high-status occupation and desire for status