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Sociology Optional PYQ Solutions · Model answer

Can Merton’s reference group theory be relevant in understanding ‘identity making’ in digital world? Explain.

  • UPSC 2025
  • Sociological Thinkers

Robert K. Merton and Alice S. Kitt ("Contributions to the Theory of Reference Group Behavior", 1950) showed that people judge themselves against groups they may not belong to. In the digital world such groups are always visible, which makes the theory more relevant, not less, though it needs extending.

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What the full answer covers

  • Why the theory fits digital identity
  • Where the theory must be stretched
  • Conclusion

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