Dissimilarity and Perceive Relative Deprivation

Dissimilarity and Perceive Relative Deprivation

Status inequality in a group is a cause of decrease in similarity between the group members. The larger of status gap, the larger dissimilarity felt by the group members, especially for the low-status group. And this will lead the member to feel deprived from their group.

According to the relative deprivation theory, individuals are adversely influenced when they believe themselves to be socially or economically deprived compared to the other peers. Individuals are very likely to choose to work or interact with others who got similar situation or characteristic with them such as intelligence and physical attractiveness (Feingold, 1997; Jensen, 1978). Therefore, the low status individuals are very likely to prefer to interact with others who have the similar status. Moreover, there is a positive relationship between similarity and relationship satisfaction (Acitelli, Kenny, & Weiner, 2001; Gonzaga, Campos, & Bradbury, 2007; Russell & Wells, 1991). Conversely, when individuals feel deprived, the group relationship will be undermined in this case. Some studies also suggest that, the relation between similarity and liking is bidirectional so that the negative interactions with others lead to decreased perceptions of similarity. In another words, the individuals doesn’t like to affiliate with dissimilar others. Since they have to fulfill their need of belonging and affiliation in group, they will try to form a kind of group identity themselves among the low-status group. Same case happens to the high-status group.