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Socioeconomic status

coins in a jar

Socioeconomic status (SES) encompasses not only income but also educational attainment, occupational prestige, and subjective perceptions of social status and social class. SES reflects quality-of-life attributes and opportunities afforded to people within society and is a consistent predictor of a vast array of psychological outcomes.

Adapted from the APA Dictionary of Psychology

Resources from APA

people hanging out in front of a brick wall painted with grafitti

Broadening the scope of psychology

Understanding societal structures and policies is key to improving community well-being

Psychologists are teaching health care teams to identify and address microaggressions

Proactive training is the key to effective handling of subtle forms of discrimination—as well as avoiding them in the first place.

woman at protest holding sign saying Not Your Model Minority

Tactics to disarm and neutralize microaggressions

Practical strategies and examples of how to address microaggressions.

Petition for the formation of a new division of APA

More resources about socioeconomic status

What APA is doing

Advocacy

Socioeconomic status

APA Services advocates for federal policies and programs that reduce poverty and inequality, addressing the needs of low-income and economically populations.

Navajo woman standing by the gate of her home

Programs

Socioeconomic status portfolio

The socioeconomic status portfolio is responsible for directing, overseeing, facilitating, and promoting psychology’s contribution to the understanding of SES and the lives and well-being of the poor.