The Michael Scott Theory of Social Class: The Higher You Climb, The More You Become Michael Scott

This essay proposes the 'Michael Scott Theory of Social Class,' arguing that the higher one ascends the 'Educated Gentry' class in North America, the more their behavior resembles that of Michael Scott, the bumbling, yet comedically oblivious manager from *The Office*. Drawing from the three-tiered social structure depicted in *The Office* (losers, clueless, and sociopaths) and applying it to a model of American social class, the author posits that the Educated Gentry pursue unique, often performative lifestyles to gain status, ultimately becoming detached from reality and trapped in self-constructed realities, mirroring Michael Scott's obliviousness and performative behavior. The use of language, specifically 'Posturetalk' and 'Babytalk,' reinforces this detachment.