The Effect of Social Class on Tolerance of Defeat

Abstract

This study employs a replicative task design using time invested in a task as an index of tolerance of defeat compare working-class and middle-class subjects. Subjects were given independently and in random order a logico-manipulative task and a motor-manipulative task. Following standardized instructions subjects were asked try complete the task. The relation of tolerance for defeat (defined as a function of time) social class level is positive. Middle-class subjects spend more time attempting accomplish a difficult task than working-class subjects. Tolerance levels do not appear be affected by age or residence of subject, ordering of tasks, or addition of tasks. The results suggest a possible relation the empirically documented findings on variations in aspiration levels by social Many studies have examined people's aspiration levels and most of them suggest that individuals in different social classes have different levels of aspiration. Leonard Reissman (1959:361) writes, There are several independent studies, of widely different samples of individuals, that all come a reasonably common conclusion about aspirations: the striving for 'success' is strongest among those in the middle and upper classes and is lowest among those in the lower class. The question Reissman asks is why such a class difference exists. He suggests that individuals in the lower class are simply being realistic. Those in the upper and middle classes have a fairly good chance of achieving high aspirations whereas those in the lower class do not. Lower-class individuals are either forced transfer their levels of aspiration their children or lower their aspirations reachable goals. Knupfer (1947) comes a similar conclusion on aspiration levels but offers a somewhat different explanation. Lower status individuals hold low levels of aspiration 'to make life tolerable,' a fact which in some cases is a sign of apathy and ingrained acceptance of defeat rather than of adjustment reality. Knupfer's phrase to make life tolerable suggests that members of the lower class have a low level of tolerance of defeat. This, then, may be one of the reasons why they set their levels of aspirations low. At the same time it slggests that middle- and upper-class persons may have a higher level of tolerance of defeat. They can afford set their goals higher without threatening their egos. The problem for investigation here is examine the relationship between tolerance of defeat and social Here tolerance is operationally defined as time spent attempting perform a task. The main working hypothesis is that middle-class subjects will spend more time on a difficult task than will working-class subjects. To account for the influence of certain other conditions we also hypothesize that the amount of time spent on difficult tasks within social class will not be significantly affected by the ordering of tasks, or addition of a second task, or the communities from which the samples are drawn.