Social Stratification and the Symbolic Significance of Non-Material Incentives

The article examines the phenomenon of non-material incentives as a significant mechanism for maintaining and reproducing social stratification. It explores forms of symbolic rewards, including public recognition, honorary titles, and cultural rituals, and their role in consolidating social status, shaping identity, and sustaining the social hierarchy. The methodological basis of the study relies on qualitative analysis of scholarly literature and a comparative-analytical approach, which made it possible to identify the logic of non-material incentives’ functioning within the framework of theories of stratification, symbolic capital, and cultural reproduction. Particular attention is paid to the interaction of elite, middle, and marginalized groups in the struggle for access to symbolic resources, as well as to the processes of redefining meanings in the context of social dynamics.