Personal Factors, Perceptions, and First Impressions

Abstract

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine whether a person’s economic status has an impact on other’s perception of their alcohol abuse. Sixty male and female undergraduate psychology students volunteered for the study via the campus research database. Participants received partial credit for a course requirement for completing the study.
They will be asked to evaluate 2 different, yet similar vignettes; 30 participants for each vignette. Both vignettes will have the same character’s name, interest, and alcoholic behavior. The only difference is that one vignette will have a character that is in high level social class and earns more money than the character in the second vignette. To analyze the results, an ANOVA test might be use to find the mean differences between the two vignettes. It was expected that it is more socially acceptable for people at higher social status (wealth) to drink or exhibit alcohol abuse.

Keywords: Social class level, alcohol abuse, perceptions.