Someone who is less financially successful may look down upon groups that are even less successful as a way to protect his or her own ego. this is an example of the function of prejudice

This is an example of the "ego-defensive" function of prejudice.

The ego-defensive function alludes to holding attitudes that ensure our confidence or that legitimize activities that influence us to feel regretful. For instance, one way kids may protect themselves against the sentiments of mortification they have encountered in P.E. exercises is to embrace an unequivocally negative mentality to all games.

it teaches readers about an interesting chinese custom and causes them to determine that the minister is trying to be polite