Sandesh JainAIR 161 · CSE 2025 · 159 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
None written.
Body · points and prose
Merton in his book - 'social structure and anomie' described reference group as a group to which an individual aspires to become part of and adopt their ideals and values.
Reference group leading to relative deprivation and criminal behaviour
Merton argued that in course of anticipatory socialization in closed society, an individual becomes distant from his current group in order to become part of reference group.
Close · a summary
Failing to do so, result in deprivation i.e. exclusion from current group as well as exclusion from reference group.
This further leads to retreatist behaviour where an individual gave up his goals and means and adopt rebellion behaviour or criminal behaviour.
Sometime, Merton argued that individual might adopt innovative means through illegitimate ways to achieve their goals.
(Eg) Gun culture use in America.
However, in open society, individual has certain other alternatives to prevent relative deprivation.
Merton's theory of reference group is highly relevant in contemporary society to curb menace of relative deprivation.