It helps you identify certain behaviors consistent with different classes, which helps you understand those in such a class.
I know I recognized behaviors in students, and it really made a lot of sense. For example, the poor value showing love by buying things. I always thought it was weird that some of the poorest students in my class had the nicest shoes. There is also a fear of kids doing better than their parents, which is completely different from middle class.
Hmmm.... It's my experience that there are people at all income levels who purchase things that they really cannot afford. I usually attribute it to a failure to defer gratification for purposes of accomplishing more important goals. I didn't view this behavior as being only associated with the "underclass".
rwfromkansas said: "There is also a fear of kids doing better than their parents, which is completely different from middle class."
I don't understand what you are describing. Fear on whose part? The kids? Can you elaborate on this?