Reference Groups and Social Solidarity: A Comparative Factorial Survey of Social Cohesion between Chile and Germany.

In recent years, global economic inequality, public health crises, and increasing migration have intensified social science interest in social cohesion. This concept includes interpersonal trust, collaboration, openness, and relationships with civil society and the political system. Studies in sociology and social psychology emphasize how social interactions shape attitudes, particularly through social comparison. People evaluate their attributes against those of others, influenced by reference groups. These groups provide a basis for comparison that can shape attitudes toward inequality, welfare policies, and social trust. Demographic and socioeconomic factors in reference groups can impact support for social policies like pensions and taxes. Social cohesion is closely tied to societal values, which form the foundation for popular support and the legitimacy of welfare regimes. Contact with working-class individuals, for example, may increase support for redistributive policies, while professionals in interpersonal occupations may foster more inclusive attitudes. However, rapid demographic changes, such as those brought about by migration, can lead to perceived threats and reduced solidarity among certain groups, especially the working class. This study aims to examine how reference group characteristics relate to attitudes toward social cohesion through a vignette-based survey experiment conducted in Chile and Germany. Chile, with its high inequality and market-based welfare system, contrasts with Germany’s more state-involved, corporatist welfare model. The research seeks to understand how demographic and socioeconomic factors influence trust and willingness to support others, even when reciprocity is uncertain. It focuses on the role of reference groups in shaping attitudes toward social solidarity, with specific attention to friendship, collaboration, and territorial conflict. Survey respondents will evaluate vignettes of individuals varying in characteristics such as gender, education, income, employment status, and migration background to assess the potential for friendship, collaboration, and closeness.