Multiple choice

Who among the following used the concept of relative deprivation?

  1. Karl Marx in his theory exploitation

  2. Max Weber in his theory of class inequality

  3. Robert Merton in his theory of reference group behaviour

  4. Emile Durkheim in his theory of suicide
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C Correct answer
Explanation

Relative deprivation, a concept central to reference group theory, was developed by Robert K. Merton. It explains how people feel deprived when they compare themselves to a reference group and perceive a discrepancy between their actual and expected conditions. Karl Marx discussed exploitation (not relative deprivation), Max Weber focused on class/status/party (not relative deprivation), and Durkheim's suicide theory focused on social integration (not deprivation comparisons).

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