Which term refers to a social position to which a person is assigned according to standards?

Which term refers to a social position to which a person is assigned according to standards?

• A. Ascribed status
• B. Social status
• C. Achieved status
• D. Master status

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is how a social position is acquired: some roles people are placed into by society, not by their own choices. This term captures a position assigned to a person according to standards and existing structures, often at birth or through social norms, rather than something earned through effort. That makes it ascribed status, a label for roles like being a son or daughter, gender, or caste in certain contexts—positions determined by external criteria rather than personal achievement. In contrast, an achieved status arises from what a person does—education, career, or other deliberate accomplishments. The idea of master status refers to the one dominant identity that shapes how others see a person in a given situation, which could stem from either ascribed or achieved attributes but is about prominence rather than how the status was obtained. Social status, more broadly, simply refers to one’s place in the social hierarchy and can be either ascribed or achieved, without specifying how it was assigned.

The main idea here is how a social position is acquired: some roles people are placed into by society, not by their own choices. This term captures a position assigned to a person according to standards and existing structures, often at birth or through social norms, rather than something earned through effort. That makes it ascribed status, a label for roles like being a son or daughter, gender, or caste in certain contexts—positions determined by external criteria rather than personal achievement. In contrast, an achieved status arises from what a person does—education, career, or other deliberate accomplishments. The idea of master status refers to the one dominant identity that shapes how others see a person in a given situation, which could stem from either ascribed or achieved attributes but is about prominence rather than how the status was obtained. Social status, more broadly, simply refers to one’s place in the social hierarchy and can be either ascribed or achieved, without specifying how it was assigned.