Question

Lucy's parents recently moved to a new state. However, Lucy is unhappy at her new school because her parents cannot afford to buy her the expensive clothes and electronics that other students have. In this scenario, Lucy is experiencing ______.

A) Social stigma.
B) Anomie.
C) Relative deprivation.
D) Social disorganization.

Answer 1

Lucy is experiencing relative deprivation, which is a sense of deprivation not from an absolute lack of necessities, but from an inability to meet the common standard of living which she perceives as the norm. The correct option is C.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this scenario, Lucy is experiencing relative deprivation. Relative deprivation is a condition where individuals feel deprived not due to a lack of absolute necessities but because they are unable to maintain a standard of living that they perceive is common or normative within their society.

Lucy perceives her lack of expensive clothes and electronics as a shortfall compared to her peers, which she interprets as a standard that she is unable to meet.

Relative deprivation can affect a person's self-esteem and sense of belonging, as it often leads to social comparison with others who seem better off.

Unlike absolute poverty where basic needs are not met, relative deprivation focuses on the comparison with societal standards that are perceived as being the average or norm.

This perception of inequality can lead to feelings of unhappiness and dissatisfaction, as is the case with Lucy in her new school environment. The correct option is C.