A theoretical integration of three approaches to social mobility

A major consideration of the mobility process is the three possible directions an individual can take when changing his social position (see Barber, 1957:Chapters 14 and 15; Tumin, 1967:Chapter 10). These three possible directions are: downward mobility, where the individual moves to a social position at a lower social level than his original position; horizontal mobility, where an individual roves to a social position within the same social level; and upward mobility, where an individual moves to a social position at a higher social level. Of the three directions, upward mobility has been the major research concern of sociologists working within the area of social stratification (Bendix and Lipset, 1959; Blau and Duncan, 1972; Ellis, 1952; Lipset and Zetterbe:g, 1966). Therefore, there is a considerable amount of data available on upward mobility but the findings lack an interpretation which explains upward mobility as a process.The task of this research endeavor will be to develop a theory of the upward social mobility process from the findings of the different approaches used to study upward mobility. It is important to note that within social science these approaches have emanated from diverse theoretical backgrounds and have been treated as mutually exclusive explanations of mobility.Traditional sociological theories have emphasized the social structure conditions necessary for social mobility to exist in differing degrees and rates, and do not address upward mobility as a process of itself in a systematic manner. Therefore there is a need for a theory that will explicate the upward mobility process, within the context of individual causes and effects in a situational milieu. This social-psychological emphasis has been felt by Lasswell (1969:123) within the field of stratification in general, and the author believes that it is consistent and meaningful to construct a social-psychological theory of upward social mobility which better explains the mobility process.By utilizing the data and findings of certain studies completed on upward mobility the author will attempt to integrate those findings into a unified, systematic explanation of upward mobility. Therefore, the newly developed theoretical scheme will attempt to account for the individual causes and effects of upward social mobility within the context of the total mobility process.Thesis (M.A.