Lower, Middle & Upper Class People Usually Have Different Ideas Of What Happiness Means
Peopleimages.com - Yuri Arcurs via CanvaPeople usually think about differences in wealth and job titles as the things that distinguish social classes from one another. More recent research has shown that there are also significant psychological and cultural differences between the classes as well.
That’s not surprising since the class that someone grows up in affects nearly every aspect of their life. From the resources available to them to how important they think money is, members of the upper, middle, and lower classes are exposed to very different circumstances that impact what they believe true happiness is.
Lower, middle, and upper-class people don’t think about happiness the same way.
Social class is one of those things that comes with a lot of stereotypes. Society tends to paint upper-class folks as finding joy in their supposedly unlimited funds, while the lower class live humbler lives full of meaning rather than materialism. This could definitely be true in some cases, but it also shouldn’t be used to paint a universal picture of what each class cares about.
Upper-class people can live more worry-free lives, giving them the chance to be whoever they want to be.
The richest tier of society is known for the power they hold. While public figures like politicians and athletes would be considered part of this class (unless you think of them as a class all their own), many business executives and successful investors are also upper class.
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This means members of the upper class are typically very influential and have a say in shaping the world they live in. That gives them the ability to build a society that they know will support them even further. They also derive happiness from the sense of freedom they feel. They aren’t tied to one location, one path forward, or even one healthcare provider. They can make their own choices, which is a big source of their contentment.
Class expert Michael Kraus, PhD, explained that this allows the upper class to just be themselves. “The good news about having influence and control is it’s really freeing,” he said. “High-power people stay authentically the same person no matter the context.” They don’t have to think about conforming to a certain mold, so they can find true happiness by being real and doing what they want in the process.
Middle-class people feel happiest when they know they have a stable foundation.
The middle class is a bit broader and harder to define, although it has been shrinking over the years as the wealth disparity between the rich and the poor continues to grow. This group has enough money to feel stable, while also enjoying some advantages the lower class doesn’t have.
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According to a 2010 report from the Commerce Department, middle-class folks are more interested in achieving financial security than making big wealth gains that would move them to the upper class. They want to own homes, send their kids to college, afford healthcare, and be able to retire, and they aren’t afraid to work hard to reach those milestones.
No one is really free from anxiety in the same way that the upper class is, but the middle class finds their happiness in not living in a constant state of worry. They want everyone to be taken care of and provided for. Being able to take an annual vacation or visit a museum over the weekend wouldn’t hurt either, but security is their main priority and what they find comfort in.
Lower-class people lean into their strong hope for a better future, even if it’s just for their kids.
The lower class is usually synonymous with the working class in the United States, and it feels like this group is growing, even if it means members of other classes are falling down the ladder. They often hold jobs with small salaries and few benefits, which affects their quality of life.
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Members of the lower class tend to have fewer educational opportunities, which can limit their chances to advance in their careers. They live paycheck to paycheck and use social resources as needed, but they also face some of the highest and most inexplicable government fees.
Living a less affluent life doesn’t mean someone can’t be happy, and plenty of lower-class people find joy that isn’t defined by their circumstances in their families and communities. They don’t have access to the same kinds of material goods, but they also don’t need them to feel fulfilled. And, although life isn’t easy, they hold on to hope that their hard work will pay off and create a better life for their children, if not for themselves as well.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
