Differentiation (sociology)

The term differentiation ( also Social differentiation or social differentiation ) refers to long-term changes in a society that are associated with the formation of new or breakdown of social positions, situations and / or lifestyles, as well as the result of such processes, namely Social differentiation. It was founded in 1890 by Georg Simmel introduced into sociology ( About sociale differentiation).

  • 2.1 causes, consequences and functions of social differentiation

Types and forms of social differentiation

Horizontal differentiation

Horizontal differentiation is the duplication and specialization of tasks and activities, in particular occupations ( division of labor) and associated training paths, as well as lifestyles.

Empirical evidence for a horizontal differentiation already exist for the Neolithic, as the increased productivity through the introduction of agriculture made ​​it possible to feed people non- agriculturally active. Boosts can be observed in the development of urban civilizations from the 4th millennium BC, for example, in Mesopotamia or in China in the early dynasties. More "thrusts " horizontal differentiation existed in the period of Hellenism, in the formation of the Italian city-states in the late Middle Ages and the emergence of manufacturers in the modern era. With the advent of industrialization, which has continued from the first Industrial Revolution on the development of electrical and chemical to electronics industry, is horizontal differentiation to an object of the emergence of a sociology. More recently, supply is particularly the differentiation of lifestyles in the focus of sociological analysis.

Vertical differentiation

If social positions are connected with a hierarchical evaluation, we speak of vertical differentiation. The most important special case of vertical differentiation is the formation or breakdown of power and structures of domination.

Spatial differentiation

The emergence of social, cultural and economic differences between town and country, between urban and Suburbanem room as well as the socio-spatial differentiation of (eg urban ) areas of part is referred to as spatial differentiation and also the preamble subordinate social differentiation.

Functional differentiation

If the formation and breakdown of social positions, but also the emergence of institutions, from the viewpoints of a functionalist, structural- functional or system-theoretical analysis described, they are also known as functional differentiation.

Currently, the existence of ten functional systems is assumed: politics, business, science, art, religion, law, health, sports, education and mass media system (Roth 2014).

Segmental differentiation

Segmental differentiation is based on the model of simple, small, spatially separated, the same companies with face-to -face communication ( tribes, villages, etc. ); all members have essentially held the same social roles.

Theories of social differentiation

While Social differentiation was often assumed to be unrücknehmbar during the optimism of progress, is now increasingly discussed the possibility that social differentiation is reversible. Dedifferentiation as well as everyday society-wide through to barbarism occurring situation is controversial.

Causes, consequences and functions of social differentiation

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