抄録
The Problem
Regarding the relation between status inconsistency and attitude, there have been reports on findings which are contradictory to each other. One is the finding which substantiates that status inconsistency affects one's political attitude, voting behavior, class consciousness, etc. ; the other denies the above relation between status inconsistency and political attitude, etc. The paper deals whit the issue of how status inconsistency is substantially related to class consciousness in Japanese society.
Class consciousness consists of various aspects, consequently, its relation with status inconsistency should be considered separately with regard to each aspect. Sensitivity for class structure, one of the aspects of class consciousness, is presumed to have direct connection with status inconsistency while preference for change in existing class structure dose not seem to be necessarily connected with status inconsistency.
Findings
Following is the result of the research made on male adults living in Tokyo.
As to class existence, more people in the status inconsistency group than in the consistency group have replied that class does exist. However, there have been no definite trends regarding patterns of class structure.
As to class identification, less people in the former group than in the latter identified themselves with middle class.
As to drift of change in the class structure, many in the status inconsistency group replied that society should be improved with the effort of each individual, and those against socialism were seen more in the inconsistency group than in the consistency group. As to political party, more people in the inconsistency group than in the consistency group expressed their support for Liberal Democratic Party.
Conclusion
People in the status inconsistency group are more sensitive for class structure and their own status than those in the consistency group. This seems to result from the facts that people in the status inconsistency group have contacts with people in various classes and/or that the former are destined to notice the discrepancy between their neighbors' norm and their own status.
However, people in the status inconsistency group were rather conservative as to changing the existing class structure. It may be said that radical attitude is not the only reaction they can take but just one of the alternatives in various reactions.
