article

Lagging emulation in post-peasant society

American anthropologist66 (3) (1) • Published In 1964 • Pages: 569-586

By: Friedl, Ernestine.

Abstract
Influenced by the ideas of Thorstein Veblen and Charles Erasmus, this paper presents a lengthy discussion of the concept of 'lagging emulation' which Friedl believes may be of value for studying change in rural populations emerging from the status of peasantry. This concept involves the process by which '…social groups of lower prestige, upon the acquisition of new wealth or other forms of opportunity, imitate and often successfully acquire what they conceive to be the behavior of those with greater prestige; the emulation 'lags' in that the behavior imitated is that which reached its acme as a prestige symbol for the highter social group at an earlier period in its history, and is now obsolescent' (p. 569). How this concept is applied to contemporary Greek data, particularly in reference to the village of Vasilika, constitutes the major portion of this document.
Subjects
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Cultural participation
Urban and rural life
Occupational specialization
Status, role, and prestige
Gender status
Social relationships and groups
Liberal arts education
culture
Greeks
HRAF PubDate
2003
Region
Europe
Sub Region
Southeastern Europe
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2002
Field Date
1955-1956, 1959
Coverage Date
not specified
Coverage Place
village of Vasilika, Province of Boeotia, Greece
Notes
Ernestine Friedl
Includes bibliographical references (p. 584-586)
LCCN
17015424
LCSH
Greece