status
Definition
Status refers to an individual's perceived position within a social or economic hierarchy, assessed both through comparisons within one's own group and across group boundaries. In research on White Americans, subjective status perceptions are measured relative to other racial and ethnic groups, producing a ranked sense of where one stands in the racial economic hierarchy. A latent profile analysis of a representative quota sample identified a distinct group, approximately 15% of participants, who perceived themselves as falling behind White and Asian Americans while also feeling nearly overtaken by Black and Hispanic Americans, a configuration labeled the 'last place (tied)' profile. These subjective perceptions predicted support for alt-right ideology, DEI bans, and Donald Trump, and remained stable across five longitudinal waves spanning early September through the 2024 U.S. presidential election, even after controlling for objective indicators of income and education.
Sources: Kukharkin et al. (2026)
Related Terms
- political psychology (1 shared article)
- economic inequality (1 shared article)
- latent profile analysis (1 shared article)
- longitudinal design (1 shared article)
Applications
Status and Political Attitudes
White Americans who perceived themselves as occupying the lowest position in the racial economic hierarchy showed the highest support for alt-right ideology, DEI bans, and Trump across all five waves of data collection. The association between subjective status and these political attitudes was temporally stable and was not moderated by wave, indicating that the relationship was present well before election day and persisted through the vote itself.
Sources: Kukharkin et al. (2026)
Status and Voting Behavior
Membership in the 'last place (tied)' profile was associated with significantly higher odds of voting for Trump in the 2024 U.S. presidential election compared to other profile groups. White Americans classified in the 'third place, dispersed' profile had roughly half the odds of voting for Trump relative to the 'last place (tied)' group, with an odds ratio of 0.46.
Sources: Kukharkin et al. (2026)
Status and DEI Attitudes
White Americans who felt they were at or near the bottom of the racial economic hierarchy were the most supportive of banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This pattern held after controlling for objective socioeconomic status, suggesting that the perception of being passed by other racial groups, rather than actual economic disadvantage, drives opposition to DEI policies.
Sources: Kukharkin et al. (2026)
