The National Bureau of Economic Research just published a study arguing that those that are in the top 20% of their high school popularity ladder earned, on average, 10% higher wages compared to those that are on the bottom 20% of the ladder.
Researchers believe that this trend stems from the ability of becoming socially revered, which popular kids learn while still in high school. This social skill they then use when joining the workforce. The findings suggest that students may be better off if schools would put more focus on helping their students fine-tune their social skills.
The study relies on a survey called the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which was established over 50 years ago and continues today.
This survey tracks the web of relationships that each student has and is able to pick up on the students that are truly popular from those that only think that they are. The authors of the study believe there to be a “positive association between a warm early family environment” and a high level of popularity. They also found that “relatively older and smarter students are more popular, while relative family income status plays only a minor role.”
There may soon be a movement of schools creating programs focused on helping kids become less socially awkward.
The researchers also add that, “Social interactions within the group of classmates provide the bridge to the adult world as they train individual personalities to be socially adequate for the successful performance of their adult roles.”
Maybe being a keg-standing jock is for the best.
Shouts to Elite Daily for this post
