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Habitus in different life situations
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Habitus in different life situations

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… 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.).

Own illustration: Habitus mileus outlined
Own illustration: Habitus mileus outlined
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Note this is a very sertilized way of showing a complex concept.
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🫂 Habitus of lower-class millieus
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.

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💼 Habitus of middle-class millieus
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.

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💍 Habitus of higher-class millieus
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.

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KEY TAKE AWAYS
  1. The habitus of lower-class milieus embraces pragmatism, high frustration tolerance, cohesion, and toughness, reflecting a devotion to fate.
  2. The habitus of middle-class milieus centers around striving for achievement, status, ambition, self-discipline, and impulse control.
  3. The habitus of higher-class milieus exhibits entitlement, critical faculties, awareness of privileges, and a focus on cultural education.
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… 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.

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These examples demonstrate that no habitus is like another, even if they have the same social rank!
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KEY TAKE AWAY

Each family's habitus is unique and shaped by their specific values, experiences, and backgrounds, even if they share the same social rank.

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… 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.

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The concept highlights how the habitus developed within a family can shape one's trajectory and choices, bridging various domains of life.

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).

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Whether continuity or discontinuity dominates, the habitus we develop and inherit from our families can profoundly shape our outlook, choices, and interactions with the world. It is through understanding and navigating these influences that we can better understand ourselves and the dynamics at play in our personal and professional lives.
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KEY TAKE AWAYS
  1. Continuity: The influence of social origins and acquired dispositions shapes individuals' positions and experiences across different fields.
  2. Discontinuity: Conflicts arise when an individual's habitus clashes with the expectations, norms, and structures of specific fields or institutions.
  3. The habitus developed within a family can bridge various domains of life, shaping one's trajectory and choices.
  4. Overcoming discontinuity requires adaptability, negotiation, and finding ways to reconcile personal inclinations with external pressures.
  5. The habitus profoundly shapes outlook, choices, and interactions, emphasizing the importance of understanding and navigating these influences.
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… 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.

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Acceptance of a habitus depends on specific expectations and norms within each social context.
A DJ playing a set (Popov, 2020).
A DJ playing a set (Popov, 2020).

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
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KEY TAKE AWAYS
  1. The same behavior/characteristic can be perceived differently depending on the occupation and social context.
  2. The same behavior/characteristic can be perceived differently depending on the occupation and social context.
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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).

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KEY TAKE AWAYS
  1. Entrepreneurs possess a multifaceted habitus that drives them towards success, characterized by a growth mindset, effective delegation, and a strong network foundation.
  2. Balancing conformity and challenging existing structures is crucial for entrepreneurial success.
  3. 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 😎

🧠Prüfungsleistung 3 - Konstantin Meyer🎓What is Habitus🍋Why you should care💯Understanding Habitus
🚀Habitus of sucessful peole and what we can learn from them🌯Let’s wrap it up