Jonathan Turner argues in this chapter that the number of resource types in most psychological and sociological theorizing has been rather limited. In an attempt to remedy this, Turner emphasizes the structural bases of resource distribution and the range of key resources in social interaction at different levels of analysis. The institutional domains in complex differentiated society are built from corporate units. Within each institutional domain, generalized symbolic media are used as the symbols of discourse, theme-building, and ideological formation. These symbolic media are also the valued resources unequally distributed by corporate units in a domain. This unequal distribution causes the formation of a stratification system of classes. Furthermore, the possession of high shares of these symbolic media resources also allows individuals to claim and possess other highly generalized resources, most notably prestige, dignity, and positive emotional energy. Yet, when a larger set of resources is seen as part of the stratification system, there is typically than less inequality when only money, power, and prestige are considered.
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