The study looked at how our childhood, teenage, and adult social status affects how we see ourselves in society as adults. They used data from over 15,000 people in Brazil and found that if you had a lower social status growing up, you are more likely to feel like you have a lower social status as an adult. This connection was stronger when looking at a person's own experiences rather than their family's social status. This suggests that how we see ourselves in society is shaped by our past experiences and current situation.