A twenty-eight-year-old woman is on the verge of a big promotion at work.She didn't finish college until she was twenty-five and the entry-level job she currently has is not impressive.She decides to attend her ten-year high school reunion only if she is promoted.What do sociologists say her high school classmates represent if they can have this much influence on her decision to attend the reunion?

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Sociologists would say that her high school classmates represent a reference group. This is a group that an individual uses as a standard for evaluating themselves and their behavior. In this case, the woman is using her high school classmates as a reference point for her own success and achievement, and is only willing to attend the reunion if she has reached a certain level of success (i.e. promotion).

A Twenty-Eight-Year-Old Woman Is on the Verge of a Big