… leads to different forms of Habitus
Habitus in different life situation comes to day in diffferent forms and is characterized by different values and attributes. Each represents a distinct mindset and set of behaviors, shaping how individuals approach life and navigate their circumstances (Märtin, 2019; Gladwell & Neubauer, 2010; F.A.S., o. D.).
Amout fati - the devotion to fate
This habitus revolves around the concept of "amour fati," which refers to a deep devotion to fate - things often are taken as is. People with this habitus embrace pragmatism and have a high tolerance for frustration. They are characterized cohesion and toughness, both towards themselves and others, understanding that challenges are part of life and should be confronted with resilience.
Striving for acievement and status
The Habitus of the middle-class is characterized by a constant pursuit of achievement and status. Individuals with this habitus exhibit ambition, self-discipline, and impulse control. They are driven to succeed and actively work towards their goals, always striving for higher levels of accomplishment while usually strictly adhereing the law.
Habitus of entitlement
This form of Habitus is marked by a sense of entitlement. Individuals with this habitus possess critical faculties and are aware of their rights and privileges. They value cultural education and seek to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. This habitus is characterized by risk taking since potential down falls are not percieved as dangerous.
- The habitus of lower-class milieus embraces pragmatism, high frustration tolerance, cohesion, and toughness, reflecting a devotion to fate.
- The habitus of middle-class milieus centers around striving for achievement, status, ambition, self-discipline, and impulse control.
- The habitus of higher-class milieus exhibits entitlement, critical faculties, awareness of privileges, and a focus on cultural education.
… will find it’s unique way
Let’s look at Habitus through the examples of two families ((Tan & Liu, 2022; own examples).
Culturally diverse family
Imagine a culturally diverse family that places great importance on holistic education, personal growth, creativity, and social responsibility. In this household, discussions are filled with diverse perspectives, traditions, and a shared desire to nurture well-rounded individuals who can make a positive impact on society. This habitus fosters an environment where curiosity and exploration are encouraged, and where each family member is empowered to embrace their unique talents and passions.
Entrepreneurial family
On the other hand, picture an entrepreneurial family background where risk-taking, innovation, and autonomy in work are deeply ingrained values. From an early age, members of this family are exposed to tales of bold business ventures, thrilling successes, and even occasional setbacks. They grow up seeing entrepreneurship as an exciting path, constantly seeking new opportunities and solutions. The entrepreneurial habitus instills in them a fearless mindset, where calculated risks and out-of-the-box thinking become second nature.
Each family's habitus is unique and shaped by their specific values, experiences, and backgrounds, even if they share the same social rank.
… can exhibit both continuity and discontinuity in social spaces
✅ Continuity
Consistent influence of social origins and acquired dispositions on individuals' positions and experiences across different fields.
❌ Discontinuity
Represents the misalignment and conflicts between individuals' habitus and the expectations, norms, and structures of specific fields or institutions.
For instance, the culturally diverse family's emphasis on personal growth and social responsibility might lead a member to pursue a career that aligns with these values, carrying their upbringing into their professional endeavors.
However, not every individual's habitus seamlessly aligns with the expectations, norms, and structures of specific fields or institutions. This is where discontinuity arises. Conflicts may arise when an individual's habitus clashes with the established frameworks in a particular domain. It becomes a battle between personal inclinations and external pressures. Overcoming these discontinuities often requires adaptability, negotiation, and finding ways to reconcile one's habitus with the demands of the field (Tan & Liu, 2022).
- Continuity: The influence of social origins and acquired dispositions shapes individuals' positions and experiences across different fields.
- Discontinuity: Conflicts arise when an individual's habitus clashes with the expectations, norms, and structures of specific fields or institutions.
- The habitus developed within a family can bridge various domains of life, shaping one's trajectory and choices.
- Overcoming discontinuity requires adaptability, negotiation, and finding ways to reconcile personal inclinations with external pressures.
- The habitus profoundly shapes outlook, choices, and interactions, emphasizing the importance of understanding and navigating these influences.
… has different acceptance levels
The acceptance of a habitus depends on the context it is displayed in. For example, a DJ coming late to work is seen as cool, but a judge doing the same thing is bad.
In the following, some more examples are displayed (unirostock, 2019; own examples).
Occupation | Behavior/Characteristic | Acceptance/Perception |
🕺🏽DJ | Coming late to work | Cool, shows dedication to nightlife culture |
🧑🏽⚖️ Judge | Coming late to work | Very bad, undermines professionalism |
👩🏽🎨 Creative Artist | Nonconformist attire | Embraced, seen as a form of self-expression |
🏦 Banker | Nonconformist attire | Not well-received, perceived as unprofessional |
📈 Salesperson | Assertiveness and persuasion | Encouraged, crucial for achieving targets and closing deals |
📚 Librarian | Assertiveness and persuasion | Discouraged, conflicts with the traditional quiet and reserved library environment |
👨🏽🏫 Professor | Challenging authority | Respected, encourages critical thinking and intellectual discourse |
👮🏽 Police Officer | Challenging authority | Not tolerated, undermines discipline and chain of command |
- The same behavior/characteristic can be perceived differently depending on the occupation and social context.
- The same behavior/characteristic can be perceived differently depending on the occupation and social context.
Entrepreneurial Habitus as example for a specific life situation
Especially entrepreneurs do show a distinct Habitus that is very different to others. Due to their nature of work, challenges arise on a daily basis.
🪴 Constantly growing
Entrepreneurs embody a habitus that drives them towards success. Their habitus is characterized by a growth-focused mindset, effective delegation, a strong network foundation, seeking external insights, generating new ideas, holding a consistent future vision, developing growth-oriented solutions, and implementing them with skill. This multifaceted habitus forms the bedrock of their entrepreneurial journey, enabling them to navigate challenges and achieve success (Anderson et al., 2010).
🤼 Fitting in and standing out
To succeed, entrepreneurs must find a balance between conforming to existing assumptions and challenging set structures. Cultural capital helps them assimilate with institutional norms, while symbolic capital enables them to be recognized as rule breakers and legitimate innovators. The interplay among legitimacy, success or failure, and the field's structure ultimately determines whether their playground is reinforced or transformed (De Clercq & Voronov, 2009).
- Entrepreneurs possess a multifaceted habitus that drives them towards success, characterized by a growth mindset, effective delegation, and a strong network foundation.
- Balancing conformity and challenging existing structures is crucial for entrepreneurial success.
- Cultural and symbolic capital play a significant role in assimilation and recognition within the entrepreneurial field.
Continue the exploaration here by clicking on the topic you’re most interested in or just follow to outline 😎