Consequences of Positional Inconsistency across Multiple Status Hierarchies in Hollywood

Abstract

In this study I offer a theoretical basis for conceptualizing multiple status hierarchies and examine how actors react to the inconsistency across their status positions in multiple hierarchies. Viewing status hierarchies as stemming from the intersubjective agreement in a field about what is valued, I argue that pluralistic value systems create multiple status conferral mechanisms in different hierarchies and accord unequal status to the hierarchies themselves. Revisiting the sociological literature on status inconsistency, I suggest that actors’ status positions and their status inconsistency within and across hierarchies will affect their likelihood of engaging in activities aimed at boosting their lagging status. I consider actor’s embeddedness as a contextual factor that constrains behavioral reactions to status inconsistency and facilitates cognitive adjustment to status quo. Using the artistic and commercial status of the Hollywood actors/actresses, I found that status inconsistency leads them to choose films that could potentially raise their lagging status. Moreover, while high-status performers were in general likely to stick to their routines, they were also more reactive to status inconsistency. Also, embeddedness limited their choice of films.