Relative Deprivation Theory

Relative deprivation theory is in the psychological and sociological area of study. It examines the feeling of deprivation a person experiences if they believe they are deprived in comparison with others, yet the same person may be considered relatively well-off as compared to the absolute norms of the population. What doesn’t constitute the centre for this theory is the actual inequality, but it rather takes on a subjective emotion and the perception of the person concerning what is reasonable or moral becomes the centre for the deprivation. Since its invention, relative deprivation has impacted several theories of psychology and has become a major discipline in understanding the causes of social movements and individual motivation. 

History of Relative Deprivation Theory 

American sociologist Samuel Stouffer coined the term “relative deprivation” in his 1949 published work entitled “The American Soldier.” During World War II, Stouffer and others conducted research to understand soldier morale. He noticed soldiers in groups who performed excellently or with excellent access to all necessities, felt far less pleased about their position than those in a group of very few accomplishments.

Stouffer found people are relative about their emotional condition about satisfaction in an activity, not based purely upon their absolute position about how they feel; their perception of standing, about concerning the one associated with. Therefore, his work became the foundation of relative deprivation theory as it emerged later. 

Later, in the 1960s, Ted Gurr expanded on these conceptions of Stouffer, stating that relative deprivation may cause frustration and aggressiveness. In his book Why Men Rebel, Gurr thought that, with such feelings, relative deprivation would ignite political discontent and unrest as a consequence, indicating that there is a connection between such deprivation and violent behaviours or social movements. In the long term, the theory spread through disciplines: it proved to be an appropriate framework not only for the understanding of social dynamics but also for psychology. 

Read More: Theories of Aggression: Understanding the Roots of Violent Behavior

Components of Relative Deprivation 

Relative deprivation is a cognitive appraisal of one’s position relative to others. Psychologists and sociologists who have worked on this concept generally agree on several key components.

Relative deprivation results from comparisons individuals or groups may make to others. People can make such comparisons against their peers, neighbors, coworkers, or anyone who shares similar social class positions. The identified comparison group will determine the level of deprivation. As such, the middle-class family considers itself deprived due to other more affluent neighbours, but objectively, the family remains well-off.

The theory emphasizes the subjective perception of inequality, rather than objective measures. Feelings of deprivation usually arise from the discrepancy between what a person believes they deserve or expect to receive and the actual quantity of what they have. This cognitive perspective on inequality illustrates why people in similar circumstances might view their situations differently; they may simply perceive it in different ways.

• Emotional Response: Deprivation is perceived to create emotional responses. In most cases, such responses are frustration, anger, or resentment. Such emotions can be produced by a perceived lack of fairness, which often catalyzes wanting change, whether through individual action, social movements, or collective action. 

• Reference Point or Expectation Levels: Expectations play a fulcrum role in the concept of relative deprivation. The existence of any incongruity, as derived from expectations held and performances realized, raises feelings of deprivation. Aspects underpinning an individual’s expectations can involve influences either from society at large; media; cultural ideal conditions; or generally perceived appropriate or attainable levels or standards. 

Read More: The Role of Social Identity in Group Dynamics

Mechanisms of Relative Psychological Deprivation 

People can experience relative deprivation both individually and collectively. Individual experiences are associated with personal self-esteem and subjective well-being. Research has established that a person experiencing relative deprivation is likely to have a less satisfactory life and may face psychological issues such as depression or anxiety. This psychological mechanism would work in the manner a person would interpret and internalize the social comparison made by them. 

Collective relative deprivation, though, can influence group identity and contribute to social movements. When members of a specific group (be it racial, economic, or cultural) collectively feel deprived of certain rights or resources, a shared sense of injustice can be created. Collective deprivation often serves as a fuel for social activism or political mobilization, where groups seek to redress perceived inequalities. 

Social identity theory thus comes into play here. That part of a person’s self-concept obtained from his membership in the social group, whenever this person feels that his/her group is being deprived will have an impact on his self-esteem and motivate him for performing group-based activities. So this relationship between relative deprivation and social identity accounts for why the deprived groups may engage in collective action or protest to rectify the perceived inequality.

Read More: Social comparison in the age of Social media 

Relative Deprivation: Applications in Real Life and Its Variations

This will explain a good number of social phenomena, including income inequality, crime rates, and social movements. Income Inequality and Subjective Well-Being Relative deprivation usually go hand in hand with income inequality. Individuals earning low incomes and seeing much higher incomes from others lead to feelings of deprivation. Such economic deprivation leads to an unhealthy mental status due to high-stress levels and lower satisfaction with life. Even high-income earners become relatively deprived if they see people of higher incomes. 

• Consumer Behaviour: Marketing often takes advantage of relative deprivation through marketing expensive lifestyles or products, so that people feel deprived if they are not owning those things. Sometimes, this is known as the “keeping up with the Joneses” effect, as people consume more to maintain their desired status. 
• Social Movements: The examples of the civil rights movement in the United States or the Arab Spring make it evident how relative deprivation can create a social movement. These people, believing themselves deprived in comparison with others of some rights and resources, sought to change their circumstances. Their drive was not purely based on objective inequality but on felt injustice and perceived possibility for improvement in the situation. 
• Crime and Deviance: Some studies have put forward the suggestion that a relationship exists between relative deprivation and crime. The rationale is that people might end up committing crimes to be able to cope with relative deprivation as compared to their peers in the community. This relationship between deprivation and crime is mostly manifested among the economically deprived neighbourhood with comparison leading to frustration eventually resulting in deviant behavior. 

Read More: The Psychology of Consumer Behaviour

Criticism and Limitation of Relative Deprivation Theory 

Relative deprivation theory has a wide application area, but it is also not free from criticism. Some have criticized the theory as too simplistic, considering that it does not factor in the differences between persons in resilience, values, and coping mechanisms. Responding to perceived inequality also varies among people; for instance, some people can be resentful, and others may not care, or they may have used alternative approaches to cope with their situation. 

Another, more recent theory that partially fails to explain people who perceive deprivation but are not sad about it is the theory of relative deprivation. People happen to concentrate more on what they are enjoying instead of focusing on comparing their well-being with that of other people. There are cultural factors because communities emphasizing collectivism and social harmony record fewer deprivation perceptions compared to highly individualistic communities. 

Read More: Understanding the Dynamics of Social Psychology

Relative Deprivation in Contemporary Society

With the advent of social media and digital platforms, relative deprivation has become a highly salient issue. Now, social media and digital channels expose people more to idealized images of others’ lives, which usually results in feelings of inadequacy and deprivation. Studies have shown that this exposure increases relative deprivation, especially among younger adults who are accustomed to comparing their lives to the idealized portrayals of others online.This has furthered the discussion on digital well-being, where psychologists call for the conscious use of social media to avoid feelings of relative deprivation. Individuals can thus protect against loss of self-esteem and mental health by creating their own boundaries and positive comparisons. 

Relative Deprivation Solution 

Understanding and addressing relative deprivation can lead to healthier individuals and societies. In mitigating the effects of relative deprivation, some steps include: 

1. Positive Comparison Promoting

Encouragement towards self-improvement, instead of comparisons to others, can alleviate the relative deprivation. The exercise of gratitude and concentration on personal successes can increase the subjectivity of well-being. 

2. Economic and Social Policies

Income inequality issues need to be dealt with as well as helping deprived sections of society in various policies, which may be related to objective inequalities responsible for the relative deprivation. It helps in minimizing feelings of collective deprivation through equalizing resource and opportunity accessibility policies. 

3. Education on media literacy

Education on how social media impacts the minds of its users and the mostly premeditated nature of web content might make it healthy for young people to conceive themselves better and not damage their well-being by comparisons with others. Building up community support systems to be strong and supportive fosters a sense of belonging rather than inducing an intense focus on relative comparisons. In highly cohesive societies, individuals are unlikely to feel deprived when their self-esteem is more tied to group solidarity than individual success. 

Read More: Exploring the Intersection of Psychology and Health Inequality

Conclusion 

Relative deprivation theory thus provides a good lens for analyzing how human behaviour and societal trends are impacted by perceptions of inequality. This theory has underscored the psychological dimension of social inequality by pointing out subjective perceptions over objective disparities. This reveals how people perceive their relative positions and explains why some people perceive deprivation where others do not. Redressing the psychological sources of relative deprivation is thus conducive to personal well-being and a more equitable society. In light of changing society and economy, realizing the consequences of relative deprivation is very important to achieve individual satisfaction and social happiness. 

FAQs 

1. What is Relative Deprivation Theory? 

It’s a theory that explains feelings of dissatisfaction when people perceive themselves as disadvantaged compared to others. 

2. How does Relative Deprivation affect mental health? 

It can lead to stress, anxiety, and decreased life satisfaction due to negative social comparisons. 

3. What role does Relative Deprivation play in social movements? 

Collective feelings of deprivation can drive groups to seek social change or rights. 

4. Can Social Media Increase Relative Deprivation? 

Yes, social media can heighten these feelings by showcasing idealized lives, fueling negative self-comparisons.