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Unit-3: Theories of Social Stratification-I

Self-Assessment Notes

Choose the correct options
1. Davis and Moore formulated a functional theory of stratification in
(a) 1945 (b) 1942 (c) 1940 (d) 1943
2. In 1945, two young Harvard-trained sociologists, published a short and seven page article on
social and economic inequality.
(a) Kingsley Davis and Wilbert Moore (b) Merton and Parsons
(c) Mark and Davis (d) None of these
3. “Some Principles of Stratification” was written in
(a) 1945 (b) 1944 (c) 1950 (d) None of these
4. Persons was born in the year ............ and graduated from London school of Economics in the
year ............ .
5. Kingsley Davis was the student of ............

3.3 Summary

• Functionalist theories start with the assumption that all societies want stability, orders and
peace. They assume that there are certain basic needs which must be met if society is to
survive. They therefore, look to social stratification to see how far it meets these basic needs
what they called functional pre-requisite. Functionalists treat society as an organism consisting
of different part and assume that these facts of society form an integrated whole. This approach
maintains that every component of the social structure performs specific functions which are
necessary for the survival of that society.
• American sociologist Davis and Moore gave their famous theory of stratification in an article
entitled ‘Some principles of stratification’ in 1945 in American Journal of Sociology. They
argued that all social systems share certain functional prerequisites which must be met if the
system is to survive and operate efficiently. One such important functional prerequisite is
effective role allocation and performance. There are four aspects of this prerquisite. Firstly,
all roles must be filled, secondly, they will be filled by those best able to perform those roles,
thirdly, that the necessary training for them be undertaken and fourthly, that the roles be
performed conscientiously means with dedication towards the duty.
• Davis and Moore concluded that social stratification is a device by which societies insure
that the most important positions are conscientiously filled by the most qualified persons.
Unequal reward are beneficial for societies in two ways. Firstly, it motivates people to fill
certain position and secondly, the rewards must be unequal even after fulfilling the position
so that the persons who are appointed are motivated to improve their performance further.
In modern societies people occupy positions according to their skills and qualifications. In
traditional societies ascription was the basis of filling up the positions. In such a system, the
unequal rewards would not have any effect in improving the efficiency of the system. Davis
and Moore argued that even though the son of labourer will remain a labour in such a
system, if he performs his duties well he will be rewarded through other means.
• Davis and Moore argued that all social systems share certain functional prerequisites which
must be met if the system is to survive and operate efficiently the first functional prerequisite
is effective role allocation and performance. This will ensure that the right people are placed
in proper positions. There are four aspects of this prerequisite :
• Davis and Moore’s views provoked a long debate. On the face of it their theory appear
rational and realistic. But it is contrast to traditional ascriptive societies where mobility in

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