SOC 1502 – Introduction to Sociology

University of the People

Learning Journal Unit 3

 Thorstein Veblen, an American economist and sociologist, is renowned for his evolutionary

and dynamic approach to the study of economic institutions. His seminal work, "The Theory of

the Leisure Class" (1899), brought him literary fame and introduced the concept of conspicuous

consumption, a term that describes the spending of money on and the acquisition of luxury goods

and services to publicly display economic power—of the leisure class or those with wealth and

status (Pierce, n.d.).

In "The Theory of the Leisure Class," Veblen (2013) explores the societal division between

the leisure class and those engaged in productive work. He argues that the leisure class, exempt

from industrial occupations, engages in activities considered honorable, such as government,

warfare, religious observances, and sports, to demonstrate their status and distance from the

necessity of work. This distinction between the leisure class and the working class is a

manifestation of social stratification and the valuation of activities not for their productive

contribution but for their ability to signify status and power.

Veblen's analysis can be connected to the reading materials for this unit. In Chapter 4, Little,

(2016) discusses society and social interaction, highlighting how societal norms and values shape

individual behaviors and social structures. Veblen's theory illustrates how societal values around

honor and status influence the leisure class's behaviors and the social stratification that results

from these values.

Chapter 7 on deviance, crime, and social control, and Chapter 9 on social stratification in

Canada, further contextualize Veblen's arguments within broader sociological discussions about

inequality, norms, and the distribution of power within society. Veblen's critique of the leisure

class and conspicuous consumption reflects concerns about social inequality and the ways in

which social norms reinforce and perpetuate these inequalities.

 In conclusion, Thorstein Veblen's work on the leisure class and conspicuous consumption

provides a critical lens through which to examine issues of social stratification, norms, and

inequality. His theories complement the sociological perspectives presented in the assigned

reading materials, offering insights into the complexities of social structures and the impact of

societal values on individual and group behaviors.

References:

Pierce, F. (n.d.). Thorstein Veblen: An American economist and sociologist. Britannica. Retrieved

October 24, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thorstein-Veblen

Veblen, T. (2013). The theory of the leisure class: An economic study of institutions. Project

Gutenberg. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.org/files/833/833-h/833-h.htm#link2HCH0001

Little, W. (2016). Introduction to sociology -- 2nd Canadian Edition. BCcampus. Licensed under

CC BY 4.0.