Which term refers to honor or prestige without regard to how it was obtained?

• A. Master status
• B. Social status
• C. Ascribed status
• D. Achieved status

Answer: (B)

Prestige tied to a position in society is captured by social status. It refers to the standing or rank a person has within a social group and the honor others accord to that position, regardless of how the status was obtained. Master status centers on a single dominant identity that shapes many interactions, not on the general prestige of the position itself. Ascribed status is assigned at birth or involuntarily, while achieved status is earned through personal effort. So, the idea of honor or prestige attached to a position without regard to how it was obtained is best described by social status.