What is Social Mobility?
Social mobility refers to the shift in an individual’s social status from one status to another. The shift can either be
higher, lower, inter-generational, or intra-generational, and it cannot necessarily be determined if the change is for
good or bad
Origin of the Social Mobility Concept
Russian-born American sociologist and political activist Pitirim Sorokin first introduced the concept of social mobility
in his book “Social and Cultural Mobility.” He states that there is no society that is completely open (such as the class
system) and no society that is completely closed (like the caste system in India).
According to Sorokin, no two societies are the same in terms of movement allowed and discouraged, and that the
speed of social mobility can change from one time period to the next. It depends on how developed the society is.
Such a societal shift can happen over time as individuals move from one position to another due to various social
interactions. Mobility, more or less, provides people with benefits as they are motivated by different factors in society
and work to reach new roles that offer them a better standard of living and greater rewards. People compete and
cooperate with others in society to move up the social mobility ladder.
Types of Social Mobility
Social mobility can take different forms, and people can experience different types of mobility in different stages of
their lives. The types of mobilities are independent of one another and can often overlap. They are only distinguished
for the purpose of analysis.
1. Horizontal mobility
This occurs when a person changes their occupation but their overall social standing remains unchanged. For
example, if a doctor goes from practicing medicine to teaching in a medical school, the occupation’s changed but
their prestige and social standing likely remain the same. Sorokin describes horizontal mobility as a change in
religious, territorial, political, or other horizontal shifts with no change in the vertical position.
2. Vertical mobility
This refers to a change in the occupational, political, or religious status of a person that causes a change in their
societal position. An individual moves from one social stratum to another. Vertical mobility can be ascending or
descending.
Ascending involves an individual moving from a group in a lower stratum to a higher one or the creation of a similar
group with a higher societal position, instead of side by side with its existing group. Descending mobility occurs, for
example, when a businessman incurs losses in his business and is forced to declare bankruptcy, resulting in a move
to a lower stratum of society.
3. Upward mobility
This is when a person moves from a lower position in society to a higher one. It can also include people occupying
higher positions in the same societal group. However, upward mobility, while seen as a good thing, can also come at
a cost for individuals.
When a person moves upward, they often need to leave behind familiar surroundings such as family and places.
They may also need to change their way of thinking and behavior. The individual will need to adapt to the new
environment as a result of their upward movement and adopt different behaviors in the new society.
4. Downward mobility
Downward mobility takes place when a person moves from a higher position in society to a lower one. It can occur
when someone is caught performing a wrongful act that can result in the loss of the position they currently hold.
Downward mobility can be extremely stressful for people who face a rapid decline in their social status. They may
find it hard to adapt to the new environment, as it is not similar to the standard of living they are used to. Downward
mobility is an example of the extent to which a society values equal opportunity and structure.
5. Inter-generational mobility
Inter-generational mobility happens when the social position changes from one generation to another. The change
can be upward or downward. For example, a father worked in a factory while his son received an education that
allowed him to become a lawyer or a doctor.
Such societal change also causes the generation to adopt a new way of living and thinking. Inter-generational
mobility is affected by the differences in the parents’ and their offspring’s upbringing, changes in population, and
changes in occupation.
6. Intra-generational mobility
The intra-generational change in societal position occurs during the lifespan of a single generation. It can also refer to
a change in position between siblings. One way is when a person climbs up the corporate ladder in their career. For
example, an individual starts their career as a clerk and through their life moves on to a senior position such as a
director. One sibling may also achieve a higher position in society than their brother or sister.
