Rich Class Progressive Signals

I stumbled across an interesting article by psychologist Rob Henderson (who is in his own right an interesting cadre - an American Asian, an Air Force veteran who then decided to become a psychologist and graduated from Yale University) on what "white privilege" really is. First of all, he introduces the concept of "luxury views" (or "views as a luxury" - luxury beliefs). The fact is that the highest strata of society at all times sought to stand out in some way. Something that is not available to everyone else - luxury. Once upon a time, expensive clothes were such a luxury, but with today's level of technology there is not much difference between expensive and cheap clothes - you won't stand out especially.

What turns out to be a genuine signal today that you belong to the upper class? Henderson writes that the views. For example, he describes one of his acquaintances who preached to him her views that the monogamous family was outdated. At the same time, she herself is from a prosperous (and rich) monogamous family and also plans to enter into a monogamous marriage. Henderson writes that this is generally a common thing: according to studies, children raised in monogamous families have a much higher chance of success in life. But it is these children who then hold the view that "traditional marriage is obsolete" before... entering into traditional marriage themselves. Until the 1960s, marriage rates among the wealthy and working classes in the United States were about the same. But now - for the rich, he remained about the same. But an epidemic of divorces, illegitimate children and single parents went through the American lower classes.

The same thing happens with religion. Wealthy Americans are full of atheists. But the thing is, they can afford to be atheists. For example, wealthy Americans usually have a "profession" - that is, a business in life that fills life with meaning. But the working class, instead, has only earnings and work 9 to 5 hours. But they got a sense of community, the meaningfulness of existence, and everything else in another place - in those very religious institutions, the weakening of which now leads to problematic social disintegration.

Another "luxury belif" is the belief that success in life is due not so much to work as to luck. Those who come from wealthy monogamous families, whom their parents taught from childhood to work and discipline, can profess such views without harming themselves. But the poor offspring of single parents, deprived of even religious incentives, are more likely to interpret this as an excuse not to get up from the couch at all.

The theory is, of course, not uncontroversial. But I like. It is customary to think that since the rich and educated public adheres to the so-called. "progressive cultural agenda" means these views are healthy, useful, etc. However, Henderson reminds us that some things are valued not because they are useful, but exactly the opposite. This intersects with Veblen's "leisure class" theory, which argued that conspicuous consumption or idleness is a signal by which the rich demonstrate their coolness. And also - with the ethological theory of "handicap". It is, in short, that animals have some signs not because they contribute to survival, but exactly the opposite. An understandable example: the tail of a male peacock is a signal to females "I'm so cool that I can survive even with such an inconvenient thing." Actually, idleness is the same signal, "I can spend time on the devil knows what, like playing golf, and still remain rich, successful, in power, and so on."

Thus, "progressive cultural views" is the same handicap. Demonstration: "Look, I can fill a whole glass of this poison, a drop of which kills an ordinary hard worker, but I will be peppy!" A good reason to think for all progressives who do not have a million in the stash. Just in case, I will clarify (although this should be obvious): this behavior is not in any way conscious. The idle class is no more aware that they are sending signals of idleness than the peacock is "realizing" the purpose of its stupid tail.

Mihail Pojarsky 2022-02-09