Society is not a static system, it is constantly changing and dynamic. Consequently, the structural elements of society, i.e. people, also change dynamically. A person throughout his life performs various social roles, and in the process of development of society, both roles, statuses, and people occupying them change. This phenomenon is called "social mobility". This concept has been carefully researched and described by the author of the term, Pitirim Sorokin.
Basics
The life of an individual is inextricably linked with the social space in which he lives. Mobility theory describes the movement of a social subject within this space, which is something like the universe. The position of the individual in the structure of society at the moment can be determined using some "reference points". These points of reference imply the relationship of a person to social groups, the relationship of these groups with each other.
In other words, the social position of the subject is determined by his marital status, citizenship, nationality, religiosity, professional affiliation, etc. Thus, social mobility is any movement of an individual along specified social positions. This theory considers the movement of not only a person through the social social system. Any object of social structure, values can move in social space.
Mobility options
Since mobility is movement within social space, there are different directions of these movements or coordinates. In this regard, the following types of mobility are distinguished: horizontal and vertical. Mobility in the horizontal plane is a transition between social positions within the same social level. Example: change of religion.
Vertical mobility implies a change in social status; the social level of the subject is replaced by a higher or lower one. Status improvement is upward mobility (movement of a military man to a higher rank); its deterioration is descending (expulsion from the university). Mobility in the vertical plane can be individual and group. In addition, mobility happens:
- intragenerational or intragenerational, that is, changes in the social structure occur within a certain age level;
- intergenerational or intergenerational mobility is social change in different age categories.
Mobility channels
How and by what means, structures of the social system does social mobility take place? Mobility channels arealso called "elevators". These include certain social institutions, namely the church, the army, the family, educational institutions, professional and political organizations, and, of course, the media. Thus, the theory of social mobility affects all strata of society, all social structures. Regulating the deterioration or improvement of the social status of the subject, the system thereby stimulates the desired activities of groups and individuals.
