overview on relative deprivation

            First of all, the definition of relative deprivation is that feeling of disadvantage come up from comparing her/himself with relevant reference group and that’s why the individual get angry because of the inequality of disadvantage. Moreover, there four simple requirements or steps of the Relative Deprivation according to Walter Runciman, which are (1) making cognitive comparisons, (2) making cognitive assessment about disadvantage of they or their groups, (3) seeing these disadvantages as a unfair,(4) getting angry or reactive about these undeserved disadvantages. And, Heather J. Smith says that ‘’If none of these requirements is not available, Relative Deprivation (RD) will not work.’’.

For instance, there is a video which parents bought a banana to their children as a birthday gift. It’s so natural, cute video but when this child will show the gift to friends, these friends will show their gifts too. When the child sees their birthday gifts which belongs to others and better than him gift. He will start to compare his gift between others. He will think that it is not equal and he probably will be angry about this situation. Also, this theory works on some(four) specific situations, which are specification of deservingness, emotions and political beliefs, the role of culture and skilled immigrants and political protest. Another example is effect of television. A person who is watching a TV see a person who has better life standards than him/her. The person can get angry about this situation because of the RD. It can explain like that the feeling of deservingness cause to people a feeling which I deserve what someone have, there is no different between me and others.

           After all of these, there are two type of Relative Deprivation (RD), which these are;

1.     Individual Relative Deprivation (IRD).

2.     Group Relative Deprivation (GRD).

First one is comparing of individual person and one reference. For example, two students compare their degree, one of them will think that why she/he has a great degree than me. Second one is comparing of him/her groups and one reference. For instance, women want equal right with men, it is a mass movement. It can example for group relative deprivation.

         Finally, this theory can bring some various results. The Yellow Vests Movement can be example or result of RD. This movement start to increasing of oil price and some people come each other to protest to prices. They compare the other countries and this cause the feeling of unfair or inequality. After this example, one of the various results are collective actions, poverty alleviation, political conservatism, predicting of the social unrest etc. The most important problem of 21^st century is wanting more and more and this behavior can explain with RD. Because, people have a more change to see people which has better life standards than them so it causes that idea.