Leonie C Steckermeier
Biographic Data
| ID | 198803 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Leonie C Steckermeier |
| GIVEN NAMES | Leonie C |
| FAMILY NAME | Steckermeier |
| SIGNATURE | STECKERMEIER L C |
| AFFILIATIONS | Otto-von-Guericke-Universität Magdeburg |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7095-493X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 109 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 16 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
Stereotypically Satisfied
This study examines gender differences in how job and family satisfaction affect life satisfaction in Europe. The social production function suggests that social needs are met through affection, status, and behavioral confirmation. Women are thought to be more adept at satisfying affection needs, while men are better at meeting status needs. Behavioral confirmation reinforces these roles, leading to gender-specific pathways to life satisfaction. …
The traditionalist illusion
Survey items that capture attitudes towards gender roles in the private and public spheres typically only measure agreement with a traditional gender role attitude. Respondents who disagree with such items may hold egalitarian views – favouring either equality or role-reversal – or may endorse pluralist beliefs. Using data from the ESS CRONOS Survey, we contrast a conventional measure of gender attitudes with an alternative version that clearly d…
Status Concerns Drive Self‐Optimization
In recent years, many sociological, psychological, and epidemiological studies have focused on the syndrome of social inequality, status concerns, and the emergence of social problems in affluent capitalist societies. The basic assumption is that increasing competitive pressures stress people and cause them to seek any small advantage in the status competition. Against this background, this study examines the relationship between status seeking, …
Unequal Autonomy
This paper explores the social structure of individual autonomy in Europe. Drawing on the capability approach and human empowerment theory, it investigates how individuals' sense of autonomy is structured by individual means and conversion factors as well as economic, cultural, and institutional context conditions. Using data from the European Social Survey and the European Quality of Life Survey, these relationships are analyzed for 107,070 indi…
Existential insecurity and trust during the Covid-19 pandemic
In many, but not all situations it is easier to be trusting from a position of security. This paper addresses trust’s relationship with perceived insecurities induced by the coronavirus pandemic. Looking at social trust (trust in strangers) and institutional trust (trust in the government and in the public health-care system), we explore whether individuals’ trust is negatively or positively associated with economic fears and health fears. Using …
Soziologie des Glücks
The Value of Autonomy for the Good Life. An Empirical Investigation of Autonomy and Life Satisfaction in Europe
This paper examines the association of opportunity and choice enhancing societal conditions and perceived autonomy with life satisfaction in Europe. Building on the capability approach, I investigate whether the positive effects of six basic functionings—safety, friendship, health, financial security, leisure, and respect—on people’s life satisfaction are weaker when people have more opportunity and choice. This paper addresses two main questions…
Lonely, Poor, and Ugly? How Cultural Practices and Forms of Capital Relate to Physical Unattractiveness
Physical attractiveness is increasingly framed as a meritocratic good that involves individual benefits, such as higher wages or success in the partner market. Investing in one's physical appearance is thereby seen as a means to increase one's human capital. While the positive effects are well documented, its counterpart, the dark side of physical appearance, has received much less attention from social science research. This article sheds light …
Social Ills in Rich Countries
The income inequality hypothesis claims that in rich societies inequality causes a range of health and social problems (henceforth: social ills), e.g. because economic inequality induces feelings of status anxiety and corrodes social cohesion. This paper provides an encompassing test of the income inequality hypothesis by exploring levels and breeding conditions of social ills in 40 affluent countries worldwide, as well as pathways for a subsampl…
The Sociological Canon, Relations between Theories and Methods, and a Latent Political Structure
We discuss findings from a survey of sociology students in Germany and consequences for teaching. We focus on the de facto formation of a sociological canon, the relation between theories and methods, and effects of social and political characteristics on student’s scientific preferences. Our findings suggest that irrespective of an agreement of the sociological professionals on a common definition of a core, a de facto canon of theories and meth…
Eine Krise der sozialen Anerkennung? Ergebnisse einer Bevölkerungsbefragung zu Alltagserfahrungen der Wert- und Geringschätzung in Deutschland
Der vorliegende Beitrag präsentiert erstmalig Ergebnisse zum Ausmaß, der Verteilung und den Folgen individuell erlebter Wert- und Geringschätzung in Deutschland anhand von Daten aus der Innovationsstichprobe des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP-IS 2016). Zum einen adressieren wir damit einen grundlegenden Tatbestand des sozialen Lebens – persönliche Erfahrungen der Anerkennung und Abwertung im Alltag. Zum anderen schließen wir an aktuelle Gegenwa…
Better Safe than Sorry. Does Agency Moderate the Relevance of Safety Perceptions for the Subjective Well-Being of Young Children
Better for Everyone? Egalitarian Culture and Social Wellbeing in Europe
The goal of this study is to explore the relationship between culture and social well-being, focusing on inferiority feelings. While being respected is widely seen as a key ingredient of a good life, inferiority feelings signal a lack of esteem from others. Previous research has mainly looked at income inequality as the key contextual condition for inferiority feelings and other status concerns, often inspired by the income inequality thesis/Spir…
Trusting and controlling? Political trust, information and acceptance of surveillance policies
Sociocultural inequalities and status anxiety
The Spirit Level Theory developed by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett claims that low-inequality societies are better societies because people are plagued less by status anxiety, and previous research has largely supported this idea. With the aim of broadening the knowledge about status anxiety, this article examines a crucial component of status anxiety – the feeling of not counting much in the eyes of others – within a multilevel framework fo…
The Good Life, Affluence, and Self-reported Happiness
Sociocultural inequalities and status anxiety
The Spirit Level Theory developed by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett claims that low-inequality societies are better societies because people are plagued less by status anxiety, and previous research has largely supported this idea. With the aim of broadening the knowledge about status anxiety, this article examines a crucial component of status anxiety – the feeling of not counting much in the eyes of others – within a multilevel framework fo…
Trusting and controlling? Political trust, information and acceptance of surveillance policies
The Value of Autonomy for the Good Life. An Empirical Investigation of Autonomy and Life Satisfaction in Europe
This paper examines the association of opportunity and choice enhancing societal conditions and perceived autonomy with life satisfaction in Europe. Building on the capability approach, I investigate whether the positive effects of six basic functionings—safety, friendship, health, financial security, leisure, and respect—on people’s life satisfaction are weaker when people have more opportunity and choice. This paper addresses two main questions…
Social Ills in Rich Countries
The income inequality hypothesis claims that in rich societies inequality causes a range of health and social problems (henceforth: social ills), e.g. because economic inequality induces feelings of status anxiety and corrodes social cohesion. This paper provides an encompassing test of the income inequality hypothesis by exploring levels and breeding conditions of social ills in 40 affluent countries worldwide, as well as pathways for a subsampl…
Better for Everyone? Egalitarian Culture and Social Wellbeing in Europe
The goal of this study is to explore the relationship between culture and social well-being, focusing on inferiority feelings. While being respected is widely seen as a key ingredient of a good life, inferiority feelings signal a lack of esteem from others. Previous research has mainly looked at income inequality as the key contextual condition for inferiority feelings and other status concerns, often inspired by the income inequality thesis/Spir…
Better Safe than Sorry. Does Agency Moderate the Relevance of Safety Perceptions for the Subjective Well-Being of Young Children
The Good Life, Affluence, and Self-reported Happiness
The Sociological Canon, Relations between Theories and Methods, and a Latent Political Structure
We discuss findings from a survey of sociology students in Germany and consequences for teaching. We focus on the de facto formation of a sociological canon, the relation between theories and methods, and effects of social and political characteristics on student’s scientific preferences. Our findings suggest that irrespective of an agreement of the sociological professionals on a common definition of a core, a de facto canon of theories and meth…
Eine Krise der sozialen Anerkennung? Ergebnisse einer Bevölkerungsbefragung zu Alltagserfahrungen der Wert- und Geringschätzung in Deutschland
Der vorliegende Beitrag präsentiert erstmalig Ergebnisse zum Ausmaß, der Verteilung und den Folgen individuell erlebter Wert- und Geringschätzung in Deutschland anhand von Daten aus der Innovationsstichprobe des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP-IS 2016). Zum einen adressieren wir damit einen grundlegenden Tatbestand des sozialen Lebens – persönliche Erfahrungen der Anerkennung und Abwertung im Alltag. Zum anderen schließen wir an aktuelle Gegenwa…
Existential insecurity and trust during the Covid-19 pandemic
In many, but not all situations it is easier to be trusting from a position of security. This paper addresses trust’s relationship with perceived insecurities induced by the coronavirus pandemic. Looking at social trust (trust in strangers) and institutional trust (trust in the government and in the public health-care system), we explore whether individuals’ trust is negatively or positively associated with economic fears and health fears. Using …
Lonely, Poor, and Ugly? How Cultural Practices and Forms of Capital Relate to Physical Unattractiveness
Physical attractiveness is increasingly framed as a meritocratic good that involves individual benefits, such as higher wages or success in the partner market. Investing in one's physical appearance is thereby seen as a means to increase one's human capital. While the positive effects are well documented, its counterpart, the dark side of physical appearance, has received much less attention from social science research. This article sheds light …
The Good Life, Affluence, and Self-reported Happiness
Trusting and controlling? Political trust, information and acceptance of surveillance policies
Sociocultural inequalities and status anxiety
The Spirit Level Theory developed by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett claims that low-inequality societies are better societies because people are plagued less by status anxiety, and previous research has largely supported this idea. With the aim of broadening the knowledge about status anxiety, this article examines a crucial component of status anxiety – the feeling of not counting much in the eyes of others – within a multilevel framework fo…
Better Safe than Sorry. Does Agency Moderate the Relevance of Safety Perceptions for the Subjective Well-Being of Young Children
Better for Everyone? Egalitarian Culture and Social Wellbeing in Europe
The goal of this study is to explore the relationship between culture and social well-being, focusing on inferiority feelings. While being respected is widely seen as a key ingredient of a good life, inferiority feelings signal a lack of esteem from others. Previous research has mainly looked at income inequality as the key contextual condition for inferiority feelings and other status concerns, often inspired by the income inequality thesis/Spir…
The Sociological Canon, Relations between Theories and Methods, and a Latent Political Structure
We discuss findings from a survey of sociology students in Germany and consequences for teaching. We focus on the de facto formation of a sociological canon, the relation between theories and methods, and effects of social and political characteristics on student’s scientific preferences. Our findings suggest that irrespective of an agreement of the sociological professionals on a common definition of a core, a de facto canon of theories and meth…
Eine Krise der sozialen Anerkennung? Ergebnisse einer Bevölkerungsbefragung zu Alltagserfahrungen der Wert- und Geringschätzung in Deutschland
Der vorliegende Beitrag präsentiert erstmalig Ergebnisse zum Ausmaß, der Verteilung und den Folgen individuell erlebter Wert- und Geringschätzung in Deutschland anhand von Daten aus der Innovationsstichprobe des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP-IS 2016). Zum einen adressieren wir damit einen grundlegenden Tatbestand des sozialen Lebens – persönliche Erfahrungen der Anerkennung und Abwertung im Alltag. Zum anderen schließen wir an aktuelle Gegenwa…
Soziologie des Glücks
The Value of Autonomy for the Good Life. An Empirical Investigation of Autonomy and Life Satisfaction in Europe
This paper examines the association of opportunity and choice enhancing societal conditions and perceived autonomy with life satisfaction in Europe. Building on the capability approach, I investigate whether the positive effects of six basic functionings—safety, friendship, health, financial security, leisure, and respect—on people’s life satisfaction are weaker when people have more opportunity and choice. This paper addresses two main questions…
Lonely, Poor, and Ugly? How Cultural Practices and Forms of Capital Relate to Physical Unattractiveness
Physical attractiveness is increasingly framed as a meritocratic good that involves individual benefits, such as higher wages or success in the partner market. Investing in one's physical appearance is thereby seen as a means to increase one's human capital. While the positive effects are well documented, its counterpart, the dark side of physical appearance, has received much less attention from social science research. This article sheds light …
Social Ills in Rich Countries
The income inequality hypothesis claims that in rich societies inequality causes a range of health and social problems (henceforth: social ills), e.g. because economic inequality induces feelings of status anxiety and corrodes social cohesion. This paper provides an encompassing test of the income inequality hypothesis by exploring levels and breeding conditions of social ills in 40 affluent countries worldwide, as well as pathways for a subsampl…
Existential insecurity and trust during the Covid-19 pandemic
In many, but not all situations it is easier to be trusting from a position of security. This paper addresses trust’s relationship with perceived insecurities induced by the coronavirus pandemic. Looking at social trust (trust in strangers) and institutional trust (trust in the government and in the public health-care system), we explore whether individuals’ trust is negatively or positively associated with economic fears and health fears. Using …
Unequal Autonomy
This paper explores the social structure of individual autonomy in Europe. Drawing on the capability approach and human empowerment theory, it investigates how individuals' sense of autonomy is structured by individual means and conversion factors as well as economic, cultural, and institutional context conditions. Using data from the European Social Survey and the European Quality of Life Survey, these relationships are analyzed for 107,070 indi…
Stereotypically Satisfied
This study examines gender differences in how job and family satisfaction affect life satisfaction in Europe. The social production function suggests that social needs are met through affection, status, and behavioral confirmation. Women are thought to be more adept at satisfying affection needs, while men are better at meeting status needs. Behavioral confirmation reinforces these roles, leading to gender-specific pathways to life satisfaction. …
The traditionalist illusion
Survey items that capture attitudes towards gender roles in the private and public spheres typically only measure agreement with a traditional gender role attitude. Respondents who disagree with such items may hold egalitarian views – favouring either equality or role-reversal – or may endorse pluralist beliefs. Using data from the ESS CRONOS Survey, we contrast a conventional measure of gender attitudes with an alternative version that clearly d…
Status Concerns Drive Self‐Optimization
In recent years, many sociological, psychological, and epidemiological studies have focused on the syndrome of social inequality, status concerns, and the emergence of social problems in affluent capitalist societies. The basic assumption is that increasing competitive pressures stress people and cause them to seek any small advantage in the status competition. Against this background, this study examines the relationship between status seeking, …
Sociology (11 works) · Political science (9 works) · Psychology (8 works) · Social Psychology (8 works) · Law (6 works) · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Law (5 works) · Medicine (5 works) · Politics (4 works)