SomePrinciples of Stratification - Essay Example

Authors say that the functional necessity of stratification is to induce the individuals to perform their duties and assigned positions efficiently. In other words, the social stratification system functions as a motivational factor as it inspires the individuals to attain certain positions. Once this position is achieved, the social stratification system motivates the individuals to perform the duties assigned to them. The writers say that the stratification system may be competitive or non-competitive depending on the function it emphasizes.

The social positions are distributed among individual on the basis of the degree of talent they possess. In the absence of a social stratification system, it is possible to reduce the issue of social placement to a great extent. The authors strongly opine that a society must have some kind of rewards to induce the members and this practice becomes a part of the social order. In short, every society must categorize its members in terms of both prestige and esteem in order to achieve a social balance.

In the opinion of Davis and Moore, functional importance and personal importance are the two determinants of positional rank (243). While distributing rewards, it is essential to ensure that rewards are high enough to satisfy the members and it must be distributed according to the functional importance of positions. . Although, the ideologies and practices of different religions are subjective, they greatly influence individual behavior and the integrated functioning of religions assist the society to operate as a system.

In every society, religious activities would be under the leadership of particular persons who enjoy greater rewards than the ordinary societal member. However, even priests can never be free from competition since it is not possible to clearly prove whether he has a genuine contact with the supernatural. Davis and Moore strongly claim that the prestige of priests is greatly related to the economy status of the society in which they serve their community (245-246). According to them, it was in the medieval types of social order the highest general position was awarded to the priests because it had the potential to take up some surplus expenses.

Likewise, government also plays an inevitable part in society. The only difference in the positional powers of religion and government is that the religion integrates its members in terms of beliefs, sentiments, and rituals whereas the government organizes the society in terms of law and authority. In the view of authors, stratification is necessary in political relationships as this process can effectively contribute to the political stability of the country. The article argues that income does not determine the position or prestige of a person but a person’s position has the capability to determine his income.

The writers hold the view that technical knowledge would not be much helpful to get a prestigious position in the society as it is solely concerned with means. There are ranges of internal as well as external factors