Question

A twenty-eight-year-old woman is on the verge of a big promotion at work. She didn’t finish college until she was twenty-five and the entry-level job she currently has is not impressive. She decides to attend her ten-year high school reunion only if she is promoted. What do sociologists say her high school classmates represent if they can have this much influence on her decision to attend the reunion?

Answer 1

Answer:

Her school classmates represent a reference group.

Explanation:

According to sociologists, a reference group refers to a group of people to which we compare ourselves regardless if we are close to them or not. We usually to this comparison by determining if we are accurately following certain social rules or norms. By being similar to them, we might feel comfort, feel like we are worth, or just feel like we are doing things "right."

In this case, this woman does not feel comfortable showing up at her meeting unless she got a promotion because she may feel like she is behind because she finished college later than them. Therefore, she is comparing herself to her former classmates, in this case her reference group, and wants to impress them and fit in.