Reiyl P Guhiling BSCRIM-2E

Research #1

Relative deprivation theory

I-BACKGROUND

Origin-Development of the concept of relative deprivation is often attributed to American

sociologist Robert K. Merton, whose study of American soldiers during World War II revealed
that soldiers in the Military Police were far less satisfied with their opportunities for promotion
than regular GIs.

founder-Both Garry Runciman and Ted Gurr are credited with developing the theory. Relative
deprivation is a subjective dissatisfaction that troubles many people. This dissatisfaction is
caused by the comparison between one person's situation and another's situation.

what is all about- Relative deprivation is the lack of resources to sustain the diet, lifestyle,
activities and amenities that an individual or group are accustomed to or that are widely
encouraged or approved in the society to which they belong.

II- DISCUSSION

Explanation of the theory which he got to the causes of the crime

-The concept of relative deprivation has been used to explain the fact that persons who could
be much worse off than they are but still feel deprived in comparison with even more fortunate
groups often play a prominent part in social movements.

III- ILLUSTRATION

experience,example that will describe the theory

-Runciman also drew a distinction between “egoistic” and “fraternalistic” relative deprivation.
According to Runciman, egoistic relative deprivation is driven by an individual’s feelings of being
treated unfairly compared to others in their group. For example, an employee who feels they
should have gotten a promotion that went to another employee may feel egoistically relatively
deprived.

Example.
A person does not have something.

That person knows other people who have the thing.

That person wants to have the thing.

That person believes they have a reasonable chance of getting the thing.

Another more common example of fraternal deprivation is the feeling of envy felt by middle-
class individuals when they see people on television portrayed as being middle-class driving
luxury cars and wearing designed clothes. According to Runciman, fraternal deprivation also
affects voting behavior, especially when appealing to extreme right-wing political candidates or
movements.

IV- REFERENCE

Minutes of 3.

-As defined by social theorists and political scientists, relative deprivation theory suggests that
people who feel they are being deprived of something considered essential in their society (e.g.
money, rights, political voice, status) will organize or join social movements dedicated to
obtaining the things of which they feel deprived. For example, relative deprivation has been
cited as one of the causes of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, which was rooted in
Black Americans' struggle to gain social and legal equality with white Americans.

Sources-

Curran, Jeanne and Takata, Susan R. "Robert K. Merton." California State University, Dominguez
Hills. (February 2003).

Duclos, Jean-Yves. "Absolute and Relative Deprivation and the Measurement of Poverty."
University Laval, Canada (2001).

Runciman, Walter Garrison. "Relative deprivation and social justice: a study of attitudes to
social inequality in twentieth-century England." Routledge & Kegan Paul (1966). ISBN-10:
9780710039231.