In a society with a rigid caste system, an individual's achieved status has no influence on their social mobility, as their ascribed status solely determines their life outcomes.

In a society with a rigid caste system, people's social standing is mostly determined by ascribed status, which is the social position they are born into. This means that factors like family background, race, or ethnicity dictate their opportunities and roles in life. Achieved status, on the other hand, refers to what a person earns through their own efforts, like education or job success. However, in a strict caste system, even if someone works hard and becomes very skilled, they might still be limited by their ascribed status and unable to change their social position. For example, if a person from a lower caste becomes an excellent doctor, their ability to practice in a higher social circle may still be restricted due to societal rules about caste.