ABSTRACT
I hope status-power and reference group theory has by this point shown itself to be a suitable model of social relations. I want here to provide some additional instances of its utility. In this chapter I will consider several instances of work in psychology, economics and anthropology/sociology which might be improved if pursued by status-power and reference group theory. First, I will present a view of appraisal theories of emotion as used in psychologists’ studies of emotion. Second, I will report on how psychologists seeking to induce emotions that have ecological validity follow closely the rules derived from status-power theory for how those emotions occur in real life. Third, I will suggest how the status-power model differs from the economist’s and psychologist’s model of the actor. Fourth I will depict how economic relations can be understood as social relations in status-power terms. Finally, I will discuss status and power and the problem of meaning in the study of culture.
