We aim to extend our understanding of short-term shifts in social class and subjective socioeconomic status. We attempt to accomplish this by exploring the antecedents that trigger short-term (e.g., daily, weekly) shifts, along with both the cognitive and behavioral consequences. One’s subjective socioeconomic status and understanding of where one stands relative in society is associated with perceptions of control and work performance. As such, we explore the nuances of social class through a construal level theoretical lens to examine how the individual uses available other-oriented information (e.g., coworker’s social class) and self-oriented information (e.g., one’s own resources) to perceive social distance and its subsequent impact on the individual’s subjective socioeconomic status, perceived sense of control, and performance. Across two experience sampling method (ESM) designs, we test and find support for the baseline model, along with evidence of career and financial security’s role in the relationship. Implications are discussed.
