The Three-class System

The common notion of social classes includes three generally accepted and traditional divisions—lower, middle and upper—that are held in balance more or less by a socio-economic equilibrium.  In the late 1800s and early 1900s, German sociologist Max Weber (1864-1920) formulated a different and more complex three-class theory of social stratification that included Social Class, Social Status and Political Party as distinct elements.  Weber’s approach reflects the interplay among wealth, prestige and power.  He argued that power can take a variety of forms.  A person’s power can be shown in the social order through their status, in the economic order through their class, and in the political order through their party.  Thus, class, status and party are each aspects of the distribution of power within a community.   Weber was particularly interested in the transformation of societies by economic wealth building and concluded some societies by virtue of prevailing religious orientation were better able to embrace capitalism as an engine of growth. 

from Threes, Chapter 5, “Threes in Psychology and Sociology”