Describe the concept of social mobility and examples. Vertical and horizontal social mobility

Thanks to social mobility, members of society can change their status within society. This phenomenon has many features and characteristics. The nature of social mobility varies depending on the characteristics of a particular country.

Concept of social mobility

What is social mobility? This is a person changing his place in the structure of society. An individual can move from one social group to another. This type of mobility is called vertical mobility. At the same time, a person can change his position within the same social stratum. This is a different type of mobility – horizontal. Moving takes the most different shapes– growth or decline in prestige, change in income, promotion career ladder. Such events have a serious impact on a person’s behavior, as well as his relationships with other people, attitudes and interests.

The above types of mobility have adopted modern forms after the emergence of industrial society. The ability to change your position in society is an important sign of progress. The opposite case is represented by conservative and class societies where castes exist. A person, as a rule, is assigned to such a group from birth to death. The best known is the Indian caste system. With reservations, similar orders existed in medieval feudal Europe, where there was a great social gap between the poor and the rich.

History of the phenomenon

The emergence of vertical mobility became possible after the start of industrialization. About three hundred years ago, the industrial development of European countries accelerated significantly, which led to the growth of the proletarian class. At the same time, states around the world (with varying degrees of success) began to introduce a system of accessible education. It is precisely this that has become and still is the main channel of vertical social mobility.

At the beginning of the 20th century most The population of any country consisted of workers without qualifications (or with the rudiments of general education). At the same time, mechanization and automation of production took place. The new type of economy required more and more highly qualified personnel. It is this need that explains the increase in the number educational institutions, and therefore opportunities for social growth.

Mobility and economics

One of the features of an industrial society is that mobility in it is determined by the structure of the economy. In other words, opportunities for climbing the social ladder depend not only on personal qualities a person (his professionalism, energy, etc.), but also on how different sectors of the country’s economy are interconnected.

Mobility is not possible everywhere. It is an attribute of a society that has given its citizens equal opportunities. And although there are no absolutely equal conditions in any country, many modern states continue to move towards this ideal.

Individual and group mobility

In each country, the types and types of mobility are presented differently. Society can selectively raise some individuals up the social ladder and lower others. This is a natural process. For example, talented and professional people must replace more mediocre ones and receive their high status. The lift can be individual or group. These types of mobility differ in the number of individuals changing their status.

In an individual case, a person can increase his prestige in society thanks to his talents and hard work (for example, become famous musician or get a prestigious education). Group mobility is associated with much more complex processes, covering significant part society. A striking example Such a phenomenon may be a change in the prestige of the engineering profession or a drop in the popularity of the party, which will certainly affect the position of the members of this organization.

Infiltration

In order to achieve a change in his position in society, an individual needs to make certain efforts. Vertical mobility becomes possible only if a person is able to overcome all the barriers that lie between different social strata. As a rule, climbing the social ladder occurs due to the individual's ambitions and need for his own success. Any type of mobility is necessarily associated with a person’s energy and his desire to change his status.

Infiltration, which exists in every society, weeds out people who have not made enough efforts to change their social stratum. The German scientist Kurt Lewin even developed his own formula, which can be used to determine the probability of a particular person’s rise in the social hierarchy. In the theory of this psychologist and sociologist, the most important variable is the energy of the individual. Vertical mobility also depends on the social conditions in which a person lives. If he meets all the requirements of society, then he will be able to pass infiltration.

The inevitability of mobility

There are at least two reasons for the existence of the phenomenon of social mobility. Firstly, any society invariably changes in the process of its historical development. New features may appear gradually, or they may appear instantly, as happens in the case of revolutions. One way or another, in any society new statuses undermine and replace old ones. This process is accompanied by changes in the distribution of labor, benefits and responsibilities.

Secondly, even in the most inert and stagnant societies, no force can control the natural distribution of abilities and talents. This principle continues to apply even if the elite or power has monopolized and limited the availability of education. Therefore there is always the possibility that upper layer will be at least periodically replenished with worthy people “from below”.

Mobility by generation

Researchers identify another characteristic by which social mobility is determined. Generation can serve as this measure. What explains this pattern? The history of the development of very different societies shows that the position of people of different generations (for example, children and parents) not only can differ, but, as a rule, is different. Data from Russia supports this theory. On average, with each new generation, residents former USSR and the Russian Federation gradually rose and are rising up the social ladder. This pattern also occurs in many other modern countries.

Thus, while listing the types of mobility, we must not forget about intergenerational mobility, an example of which is described above. In order to determine progress on this scale, it is enough to compare the position of two people at a certain point in their career development at approximately the same age. The measure in this case is rank in the profession. If, for example, the father at the age of 40 was the head of a workshop, and the son at this age became the director of the plant, then this is intergenerational growth.

Factors

Sluggish and gradual mobility can have many factors. An important example In this series is the resettlement of people from agricultural areas to cities. International migration has played a serious role in the history of all mankind, especially since the 19th century, when it covered the whole world.

It was in this century that huge masses of the peasant population of Europe moved to the United States. You can also give an example of the colonial expansion of some empires of the Old World. The seizure of new territories and the subjugation of entire peoples was fertile ground for the rise of some people and the sliding down the social ladder of others.

Consequences

If horizontal mobility for the most part affects only a specific individual or group of people, then vertical mobility entails much larger consequences that are difficult to measure. There are two opposing points of view on this matter.

The first says that any examples of upward mobility destroy the class structure of society and make it more homogeneous. This theory has both supporters and opponents. On the other hand, there is a point of view according to which a high level of social mobility only strengthens the system of social strata. This happens for the simple reason that people who find themselves at a higher level of position become interested in preserving class differences and contradictions.

Speed

According to sociological science, the main types of social mobility have an indicator of their own speed. With its help, experts give quantification of this phenomenon in each certain case. Speed is the distance that an individual travels in a certain period of time. It is measured in professional, political or economic strata.

For example, one university graduate managed to become the head of a department at his enterprise in four years of his career. At the same time, his classmate, who graduated from the university with him, became an engineer by the end of the same period. In this case, the speed of social mobility of the first graduate is higher than that of his friend. This indicator can be influenced by the most various factors– personal aspiration, qualities of a person, as well as his environment and circumstances related to work in the company. A high rate of social mobility may also be inherent in processes opposite to those described above, if we are talking about a person who has lost his job.

Intensity

Considering 2 types of mobility (horizontal and vertical), we can determine the number of individuals changing their position in society. IN different countries this indicator gives different figures from each other. How larger number these people, the higher the intensity of social mobility. Like speed, this indicator demonstrates the nature of internal transformations in society.

If we are talking about the actual number of individuals, then the absolute intensity is determined. In addition, it can also be relative. This is the name of the intensity determined by the proportion of individuals who changed their position, from total number members of society. Modern science gives different estimates of the importance of this indicator. The combination of intensity and speed of social mobility determines the overall mobility index. With its help, scientists can easily compare the state of different societies.

The future of mobility

Today, in Western and economically developed societies, horizontal mobility is gaining significant proportions. This is due to the fact that in such countries (for example, in Western Europe and the USA) society is becoming increasingly classless. The differences between layers are blurred. This is facilitated by a developed system of accessible education. In rich countries, anyone can study, regardless of their background. The only one important criterion becomes his interest, talent and ability to acquire new knowledge.

There is another reason why the former social mobility is no longer relevant in modern post-industrial society. Moving up becomes increasingly conditional if you take income and financial well-being as the determining factor. Today, a stable and wealthy society can introduce social benefits (as is done in the Scandinavian countries). They smooth out contradictions between people at different levels of the social ladder. This is how the boundaries between traditional classes are erased.

What is social mobility? A lot of students sooner or later begin to ask this question. And the answer to it is quite simple - it is a change in the social layer. This concept is very easy to express through two similar ones - a social elevator or an easier, everyday one - a career. In this article we will take a closer look at the concept of social mobility, its types, factors and other categories of this topic.

First you need consider such a concept as social stratification. In simple terms– structure of society. Each person occupies some place in this structure, has a certain status, amount of money, and so on. Mobility occurs when a person’s position in society changes.

Social mobility - examples

You don't need to look far for examples. When a person started as an ordinary schoolboy and became a student - an example of social mobility. Or a person was without a permanent place of residence for 5 years, and then got a job - an example of social mobility. And when a person changes his profession to a similar one (for example, a freelancer doing Photoshop and a copywriter) - this is also an example of mobility.

Perhaps you know the proverb “from rags to riches,” which also expresses the transition from one status to another, noticed by the people.

Types of social mobility

Social mobility can be horizontal or vertical. Let's take a closer look at each type.

is a change in social group while maintaining the same social status. Examples of horizontal mobility are changing the religious community or university where a person studies. There are such types horizontal social mobility:

Vertical mobility

Vertical mobility is what one dreams of great amount of people. And in the same way, sometimes it happens that it does harm. How does this happen? And everything is very simple. But let’s keep the intrigue a little and give a definition that you could logically derive a little earlier. If horizontal mobility is a change in social group, job, religion, and so on without changing status, then vertical mobility is the same, only with an increase in status.

At the same time, vertical mobility may not imply a change in social group. A person can grow inside it. For example, he became a boss among his upset colleagues.

Vertical mobility happens:

Upward social mobility. This is when status growth occurs. For example, a promotion.
Downward social mobility. Accordingly, the status is lost. For example, a person became homeless.

There is also such a concept like a social elevator. These are very fast social ladders. Although many researchers do not really like this term, because it does not very well describe the specifics of upward mobility. However, social elevators exist. These are structures in which a person will, in any case, reach heights if he remains a responsible executor for many years. An example of a social elevator is the army, where ranks are given for the number of years spent in service.

Fast ladders of social mobility

These are not quite elevators, but not quite stairs. A person will have to make efforts to get to the top, but not so intense. In more down-to-earth terms, these are the factors of social mobility that contribute to upward mobility in any modern society . Here they are:

So these points, if followed, open up many opportunities for you. The main thing is to start taking action.

Examples of social elevators

Examples of social elevators include marriage, the army, education, climbing a religious organization, etc. Here full list, given by Sorokin:

Don't miss: the concept, its problems and functions in philosophy.

Social mobility in modern society

Now very great opportunities are opening up for people. It’s generally easy to get to the top now. And all thanks market economy and democracy. Modern politic system in most countries it encourages people to become successful. As for our realities, everything is much more optimistic than in Soviet times, where the actual only ones social elevators there was an army and a party, but worse than in America due to high tax rates, poor competition (a lot of monopolists), high lending rates for entrepreneurs.

The problem with Russian legislation is that entrepreneurs often have to balance on the brink in order to make their way in their career. But this is not to say that it is impossible. You'll just have to strain a lot harder.

Examples of rapid social mobility

There are a huge number of people who were able to quickly achieve great heights. However, everyone has their own definition of “fast”. For some, success in ten years is quite fast (which is objectively true), but for others, even two years is an unaffordable luxury.

Usually when people look for examples of people who have achieved success overnight, they hope that their example will show them that it is not necessary to do something. But this is catastrophically wrong. You will have to work, a lot, and even make a lot of failed attempts. Thus, Thomas Edison, before making a cheap light bulb, tried 10 thousand different combinations, his company suffered losses for 3 years, and only in the fourth year he achieved stunning success. Is it fast? The author of the article believes so. Achieving social success quickly is only possible if you do very a large number of thoughtful actions and attempts every day. And this requires remarkable willpower.

conclusions

So, social mobility is a change in place in the structure of society. Moreover, in terms of status, a person can remain the same (horizontal mobility), higher or lower (vertical mobility). An elevator is an institution within which it becomes accessible fast enough moving up the ladder of success. There are such elevators as the army, religion, family, politics, education and so on. Factors of social mobility - education, money, entrepreneurship, connections, skill, reputation, etc.

Types of social mobility: horizontal and vertical (upward and downward).

IN Lately There is greater mobility than before, especially in the post-Soviet space, but there is still room to go. The features of social mobility are such that everyone can become successful, but not always in the desired field. It all depends on the society where a person wants to move in an upward direction.

The topic of this article is social mobility. This is a very important topic for a sociologist. It is taught today at school during social studies classes. After all, knowledge of the society in which we live is necessary for everyone. Nowadays, when changes in the world occur very quickly, this is especially true.

Definition

Migration in broad and narrow senses

Migration, that is, territorial movements of the population, can also be considered as a form of social mobility. In a broad sense, they mean any movement beyond the boundaries of a certain territory of its population (usually this territory is a populated area). At the same time, for what purpose and for how long the procedure takes place is unimportant.

However, in popular science and scientific literature, a narrow interpretation of the concept of “migration” is much more often used. According to it, this is a movement that is associated with a change in place of permanent residence.

Seasonal and pendulum migration

In a broad sense, migration includes, in addition to moving to a permanent place of residence, also seasonal and pendulum migration. The second represents the regular movement of people between several (two or more) settlements. However, their place of residence does not change. Such migration is associated with work, leisure or study. These are most often daily trips. Sometimes, however, trips made for a longer period (usually within one week) are also considered as pendulum migrations.

Two important reasons for a sociologist to classify migration

Many features exist to classify migration flows. The most important for a sociologist are the following two:

1. Migrations occurring between settlements of different ranks. In some cases, migration is vertical social mobility. This is observed when it is associated with a decrease or increase in the status of a person who has a certain place of residence. In others, it is horizontal (if the move occurs between settlements of the same rank). Today, migration as vertical social mobility is a phenomenon associated mainly with the process of urbanization. After all, moving from villages to cities is necessary element this process.

2. External and internal migrations. This division is considered quite conditional. Human migration mobility is a broad phenomenon that does not lend itself to strict classification. IN official statistics Internal migration is usually understood as the movement of people to a new place of residence, carried out within one country. By external we mean moving to another country for a fairly long or permanent residence. However, sometimes, depending on the goals pursued by a particular sociological study, migrations occurring between different subjects of the federation are also considered external.

Social mobility in Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries

Throughout the history of the development of our state, the nature of the mobility of its population has changed. These changes can be recorded quite accurately from the beginning of the 18th century. Russia, like any other semi-agrarian and agrarian society, was characterized until the end of the 19th century by rather low rates of vertical mobility. During these years, the basis of the structure of society was the estates. The boundaries of class groups, however, were more permeable at that time than in Europe during classical feudalism. The policy of absolutism pursued by the state contributed to this. Although the outflow was hardly noticeable in relation to total number The peasantry, due to the high proportion of its representatives in the country's population, had very high rates of mobility in relation to the urban classes and nobility. By paying a tax rate and a ransom, people from peasant backgrounds quite easily entered the urban classes and could advance in the social hierarchy up to the merchants of the first guild. The ranks of the serving nobility were also replenished very intensively. Its representatives were nominated from all classes of Russia - from the clergy, merchants, burghers, and peasants.

The structural mobility of society at that time (since the time of Peter I, at least) was insignificant. That is, the layers that make up the structure of society remained unchanged. Only their quantitative ratio changed slightly until the 1870s.

Mobility in the post-Petrine era

Over the next 140 years following the reign of Peter I, Russia experienced not only a very intense vertical mobility. The structural social mobility of society at this time was also significant and took place in several stages. First (1870-1917), a class of proletariat and industrial bourgeoisie gradually formed in Russia. After this, mainly from 1930 to 1970, an intensive process of modernization took place. At this time, a structure was formed that was already close to the corresponding one in industrial and post-industrial societies. The difference was that there was no class of private entrepreneurs. In addition, the sphere in which market relations operated was significantly limited. Since the 1990s, the third stage of structural mobility began in our society. It is associated with the formation of a post-industrial society in Russia, which is based on a market economy.

Changes in the prestige of professions, high rates of inter- and intragenerational mobility

In the process of the above-described structural shifts, not only the quantitative ratio of different social strata changed. The relative prestige of certain professions also did not remain unchanged. For example, in the 1930-1950s, the most prestigious professions were technical (skilled worker, engineer), in the 1950-1970s - professions related to science, and since the mid-80s of the last century - professions related to finance and trade. Very high rates of intergenerational and intragenerational mobility were observed throughout the period, as well as low level isolation of various professional groups. This was noted not only by domestic sociologists, but also by Western ones.

Territorial migration at different times

During this period, the rate of territorial mobility was also extremely high (both horizontal - to construction sites and newly developed areas, and vertical - from villages to cities). Migration began to decline only in the mid-70s of the last century. However, since the beginning of the 90s, an increase in its pace has been observed again. Many people migrate to the regions of the Russian Federation from the former Soviet republics.

II. The concept of social mobility. Intragenerational and intergenerational mobility.

Social mobility- this is a set of social movements of people within the framework of the stratification of society, i.e. a change in their social position and status. People move up and down the social hierarchy, sometimes in groups, less often in entire strata and classes.

According to the theory of fluctuations of Pitirim Aleksandrovich Sorokin (1889 – 1968), social mobility- these are the movements of individuals within a social space, which represents a certain universe consisting of the population of the earth.

P. Sorokin identifies three forms of social stratification: economic, political and professional.

Social stratification- this is the differentiation of a given set of people (population) into classes in a hierarchical rank. Its basis is the uneven distribution of rights and privileges, responsibilities and duties, power and influence. The totality of groups included in the social universe, as well as the totality of relationships within each of them, constitute a system of social coordinates that allows us to determine the social position of any individual. Like geometric space, social space has several axes of measurement, the main ones being vertical and horizontal.

Horizontal mobility-transition from one social group to another, located at the same level of stratification.

Vertical mobility– transition from one stratum to another, located at different levels of the hierarchy. There are two types of such mobility: ascending- moving up the social ladder and descending– moving down.

Main characteristics of social mobility

1. Social mobility is measured using two main indicators:

Mobility distance– this is the number of steps that individuals managed to climb or had to descend.

A normal distance is considered to be moving one or two steps up or down. Most social movements happen this way.

An abnormal distance is an unexpected rise to the top of the social ladder or a fall to its base.

Volume of mobility is the number of individuals who have moved vertically up the social ladder over a certain period of time. If the volume is calculated by the number of individuals who have moved, then it is called absolute, and if the ratio of this quantity to the entire population, then relative and is indicated as a percentage. The total volume or scale of mobility, determines the number of movements across all strata together, and differentiated– by individual strata, layers, classes. For example, in an industrial society, 2/3 of the population is mobile - this fact refers to the aggregate volume, and 37% of the children of workers who became employees, to the differentiated volume.

The scale of social mobility is also defined as the percentage of those who changed their social status in comparison with their fathers.

2. Change in mobility by separate layers is also described by two indicators:

The first one is to exit mobility coefficient from the social stratum. It shows, for example, how many sons of skilled workers became intellectuals or peasants.

Second entry mobility rate into a social stratum, it indicates from which strata this or that stratum is replenished. He discovers the social background of people.

3. Mobility assessment criteria

When studying social mobility, sociologists pay attention to the following points:

Number and size of classes and status groups;

The amount of mobility of individuals and families from one group to another;

The degree of differentiation of social strata by types of behavior (lifestyle) and level of class consciousness;

The type or size of property that a person owns, his occupation, as well as the values that determine this or that status;

Distribution of power between classes and status groups.

Of the listed criteria, two are especially important: the volume (or amount) of mobility and the delimitation of status groups. They are used to distinguish one type of stratification from another.

4. Classification of social mobility

There are main and non-main types, types, and forms of mobility.

Main species characterize all or most societies in any historical era. Of course, the intensity or volume of mobility is not the same everywhere. Non-main types of mobility are inherent in some types of society and not in others.

Social mobility can be classified according to different criteria. So, for example, they distinguish individual mobility , when movement down, up or horizontally occurs in each person independently of others, and group mobility, when movements occur collectively, for example, after a social revolution old class yields dominant positions to a new class. Group mobility occurs where and when the social significance of an entire class, estate, caste, rank, or category increases or decreases. Mobile individuals begin socialization in one class and end in another.

In addition to them, they are sometimes distinguished organized mobility , when the movement of a person or entire groups up, down or horizontally is controlled by the state: a) with the consent of the people themselves, b) without their consent. Voluntary organized mobility includes the so-called socialist organizational set, public calls for Komsomol construction sites, etc. Involuntary organized mobility includes repatriation(resettlement) of small peoples and dispossession during the years of Stalinism.

It is necessary to distinguish from organized mobility structural mobility. It is caused by changes in the structure National economy and occurs beyond the will and consciousness of individual individuals. For example, the disappearance or reduction of industries or professions leads to the displacement of large masses of people.

There are two main kind social mobility intergenerational and intragenerational and two main type– vertical and horizontal. They, in turn, fall into subspecies and subtypes, which are closely related to each other.

Intergenerational and intragenerational mobility

Generation is a concept that denotes different aspects of the kinship and age structures of the historical development of society. The theory of age stratification of society allows us to consider society as a set age groups, and thus reflect age-related differences in abilities, role functions, rights and privileges. Mobility practically does not occur in the demographic sphere: moving from one age to another is not a phenomenon of intergenerational mobility.

Intergenerational mobility presupposes that children reach a higher social position or fall to a lower level than their parents. Intergenerational mobility is the change in the position of sons relative to their fathers. For example, the son of a plumber becomes president of a corporation, or vice versa. Intergenerational mobility is the most important form of social mobility. Its scale tells us the extent to which inequality in a given society passes from one generation to the next.

If intergenerational mobility is low, this means that in a given society inequality has taken deep roots, and a person’s chances of changing his destiny do not depend on himself, but are predetermined by birth. In the case of significant intergenerational mobility, people achieve new status through their own efforts, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their birth.

Intragenerational mobility occurs where the same individual, without comparison with his father, changes social positions several times throughout his life. Otherwise it is called social career. Example: a turner becomes an engineer, and then a workshop manager, a plant director, and a minister of the engineering industry.

The first type of mobility refers to long-term, and the second - to short-term processes. In the first case, sociologists are more interested in interclass mobility, and in the second, in the movement from the sphere of physical labor to the sphere of mental labor.

II.Horizontal mobility.

Migration, emigration, immigration.

Horizontal mobility implies the transition of an individual from one social group to another located at the same level. Examples include moving from an Orthodox to a Catholic religious group, from one citizenship to another, from one family (parental) to another (one’s own, newly formed), from one profession to another. Such movements occur without a noticeable change in social position in the vertical direction. Horizontal mobility involves a person changing one status to another over the course of his life, which are approximately equivalent.

A type of horizontal mobility is geographic mobility. It does not imply a change in status or group, but a movement from one place to another while maintaining the same status. An example is international and interregional tourism, moving from city to village and back, moving from one enterprise to another. If a change of location is added to a change of status, then geographic mobility becomes migration. If a villager came to the city to visit relatives, then this is geographical mobility. If he moved to the city for permanent residence and found work here, then this is already migration. He changed his profession.

Migration These are territorial movements. They are seasonal, i.e. depending on the time of year (tourism, treatment, study, agricultural work), and pendulum– regular movements from a given point and return to it. Essentially, both types of migration are temporary and return. Migration is the movement of population within one country.

Mobility Vertical – Sociological Dictionary

The set of interactions that contribute to the transition of an individual or social object from one social class to another.

Mobility Within a Generation – Sociological Dictionary

(intragenerational mobility) - see Social mobility.

Mobility Horizontal – Sociological Dictionary

The transition of an individual or social object from one social position to another, lying at the same level.

Mobility Zh. – Explanatory Dictionary by Efremova

1. Distraction noun by value adj.: mobile.

Mobility Between Generations – Sociological Dictionary

(intergenerational mobility) - see Social mobility.

Mobility Intergenerational – Sociological Dictionary

English mobility, intergenerational; German Mobilitat, inter generative. 1. Change in social position or status from one generation to another (from father to son, etc.); 2. Total differences in social position and status between different generations of a given society. See SOCIAL VERTICAL MOBILITY.

Mobility Imaginary – Sociological Dictionary

English mobility, imagination; German Mobilitat, scheinbare. Changes in social position, status, which do not actually entail changes in prestige, income, etc. (for example, a new profession name).

Mobility Professional – Sociological Dictionary

English mobility, professional; German Berufsmobilitat. An individual’s change from one profession to another.