Study : Body Language can indicate Socioeconomic Status
Excerpts:
Socioeconomic status (SES) is determined by a number of factors such as wealth, occupation and schools attended. SES influences the food we eat, hobbies we participate in and can even have an impact on our health. Psychologists Michael W. Kraus and Dacher Keltner of the University of California, Berkeley wanted to see if non-verbal cues (that is, body language) can indicate our SES.
The researchers note that this is the first study to show a relation between SES and social engagement behavior. They surmise that people from upper SES backgrounds who are wealthy and have access to prestigious institutions tend to be less dependent on others. “This lack of dependence among upper SES people is displayed in their nonverbal behaviors during social interactions,” the psychologists conclude.
For more information about this study, please contact: Michael Kraus (mwkraus@berkeley.edu) or Dacher Keltner (keltner@berkeley.edu)