Social Class Mobility and Positive Psychology

Abstract

Taking a strengths-based perspective, this chapter focuses on understanding social class transitions and resilience among people in lower social classes. The Mobility Typology is a framework for understanding how people in lower social classes navigate social transitions. This typology is predicated on an experience of social class transition (upward, downward, or laterally) and the identification and use of resources to help the individual adapt to the new social class environment. Although the typology is relevant for people experiencing upward, downward, and lateral transitions, the chapter will focus on those moving from lower to upper social classes and thus focus will be on the entitled and distressed types. The authors challenge the perception that people in lower social classes lack agency or are constantly struggling, and instead highlight possible points of strengths. Positive psychology is able to provide an understanding of the strengths that individuals of the entitled and distressed types possess and how these individuals may construct meaning from their contexts. Practice and research implications are provided.