Relative deprivation theory dates back to the ancient Greece that is associated to Gurr (1970) and others. It is concerned with poverty and social segregation. Relative deprivation and equity theory are two major social psychological approaches to the study of felt distributive injustice. Both theories postulate its antecedent conditions, emotional concomitants, and behavioural consequences. Both theories assert that not having and deserving something are preconditions of felt unjust deprivation; that resentment, anger and dissatisfaction are among its emotional concomitants, and that the experience of unjust deprivation leads to behaviours aimed at eliminating it.
The social deprivation theory applies to the populace in Anambra State in particular and Nigeria in general. There is need for equitable distribution of resources to avoid denial or rights and privileges in such area that is suffering from marginalization in a land of plenty. The social deprivation situation for many has left many in poor state.
This poorstate makes the Church,Government, Non-governmental organization andAnambra State in particular and Nigeria in generalmust tackle to ensure that the poor are alleviated from such anomaly.Davis (1959) asserted that a person experiencing relative deprivation experiences unfairness. It retains the merit of being value-neutral as between a feeling of envy and a perception of injustice. The appeal to justice will distinguish those feelings of relative deprivation which can and which cannot be properly described as a sense of envy rather than the perception of an unfulfilled right. Gurr‟s (1970) definition of values expectations as the “goods and condition of life to which people believe they are rightfully entitled” (p.24).Faye and Miren (1970) asserted that the similarities between the two theories are so marked that a number of researcher have pointed out that relative deprivation and inequity concerning distributive injustice refer to the same phenomena. Felt injustice and the underserved benefits of other. Homans (1974) points this out when he asserts that relative deprivation is the same as distributive injustice. Adams (1965) declares that his theory of inequity is an integration of “two major concepts relating to the perception of justice and injustice”, namely, relative deprivation/relative gratification and the concept of distributive justice (p.268).
Petigrew(1967), in his review of social evaluation theory says, “An unfair exchange” and injustice‟ are essentially a recasting of „relative gratification‟ but to the neutral
„comparison level‟. (p.266). according to Martin (1981), “Equity and relative deprivation theories focus on the same …. Variables…. But equity labels and operationalizes those variables differently”. Wheeler and Zuckerman (1977), ask, “Are relative deprivation and
inequity different constructs? We think not. …. Our own position is that relative deprivation is a state experienced by the victim of inequity”.
Despite the many similarities shared by the two theories in their approaches to felt distributive injustice, they have hardly ever been compared. The most likely reasons for the lack of interaction are that two theories have developed in different disciplines. Equity has gown primarily in the social psychological literature from work of Homans (1961) and Adams (1965) and has been largely investigated in the context of behaviour involving monetary exchanges. Relative deprivation theory, in contrast, evolved in the sociological and political science literature from the work of Davis (1959), Runciman (1966), and Gurr (1970) and has been applied to group and societal level phenomena such as worker (dis)satisfaction, urban violence and collective political action.
It is only recently that some attempts have made to differentiate between the hypothesized preconditions of inequity and relative deprivation (example, Cook (1977), Crosby (1976), &Hennigan, 1977; Martin, 1981). However, no intensive work has yet been done comparing the two theories in their approaches to felt distributive injustice.
This examines how feelings of grievance about the distribution of outcomes have been approached by relative deprivation theory and by the exchange formulation of equity theory. This theory has three goals. The first is to deprivation of value expectations indicates that relative deprivation in his system involves the state of felt unjust deprivation. Crosby (1976) points out that “by definition, the sense of injustice is a part of relative deprivation” (p.91). Martin (1981), in explicating the basic components of relative deprivation theory, points out the deprivation „is a feeling of discontent based on the belief that one is getting less than one deserves….. it is most frequently operationalized as dissatisfaction in the perception of injustice”. The status value formulation of equity theory differs substantially from the exchange formulation. For expository ease, the term
equity theory is used when discussing the exchange version.
The Liberal Reformists theory and relative deprivation, and equity theory are reviewed for the purpose of the study. This is because human is imperative in and among the church members and the priest. As they relate they are able to decipher the needy and how to involve them in the affairs of the Church. The Church is relating adequately with all and sundry will be able decipher the level of social welfare need of the poor and needy among them.
The relative deprivation and equity theory links to the study is that it addresses the problem of deprivation of rights and privileges either directly/deliberately or through government policies and implementation strategies that can be devastating. This is very true of the situation with the peopleof Anambra State in particular and Nigeria in general is part of. The aftermath of the Nigeria-Biafra war left the Igbo with only twenty pounds irrespective of the economy money one has in the bank; a policy of deprivation to impoverish the people.The rich in the society get richer while the poor get poorer. In this situation some of the citizens, in order to get a share of wealth stoop too low enslave their conscience; engaging in many vices to survive. When there is equity, there will equal opportunity for all to survive. There will be tendency of social poverty rate, hence less need for provision of social welfare services.
Though deprived of many opportunities to grow, the Igbo people in general, known for handwork and self-reliance developed attitude of non-total reliance on government. Many resorted to private business. Top government offices are named by other tribes while the Igbo serve as sub-ordinate with little or no authority in contributing to policy statements and the implementations. This has relatively created deprivation and poverty among the handworking people of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province of Catholic Church. This state of poverty among many of the citizens of the Province has been an
issue of concern for the Catholic Church in Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, hence the provision of Social Welfare Services to cushion the effects of the deprivation and consequent poverty of the people.
The periodic rolling out of government policies to enhance adequate provision of basic needs has born no useful fruit as the poor still get poorer. The Operation Feed the Nation, (OGN), Green Revolution, and many others yielded no viable fruit. These policies were devastated by corruption which enabled the deprivation of the poor from getting the required relief. Schuyler (1974) observes that “the rich–poor gap will be a positive contribution of the Church. Ossi (1989) suggests that the Church is called upon to help bridge the gap by working for basic equality of all Nigerian citizens.
The Liberal Reformist Theory reviewed show that relating with the people irrespective of class gives the less-privileged to ascertain the plight of the needy. The relative deprivation theory points out that deprivation constitutes social problem where people are denied the right to opportunities such as education, source of income,health facilities and many more. This apart from generating poverty equally stirs up vices in the society.