Consensus and stratification in the affective meaning of human sociality.

ABSTRACT: We investigate intrasocietal consensus and variation in affective meanings of concepts related to authority and community, two elementary forms of human sociality. Survey participants (n = 2,849) from different socioeconomic status (SES) groups in German society provided ratings of 909 social concepts along three basic dimensions of affective meaning. Results show widespread consensus on these meanings within society and demonstrate that a meaningful structure of socially shared knowledge emerges from organizing concepts according to their affective similarity. The consensus finding is further qualified by evidence for subtle systematic variation along SES differences. In relation to affectively neutral words, high-status individuals evaluate intimacy-related and socially desirable concept

SUBMITTER: Ambrasat J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4050547 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature