The process of idealizing social bonds in the sociological tradition

Abstract

Social bonds have been a topic of continual analysis in the sociological tradition. This chapter aims to show, frst of all, that classical sociological refection on social bonds adopts a longitudinal or procedural perspective. In addition, through reference to various authors, it highlights the consequences of the processes associated with social differentiation for human relationships, personality structures and social bonds. This refection leads to the identifcation of a line of convergent refection in the sociological tradition, which fnds that processes of social differentiation, increasing individualization and self-restraint have brought with them progressively abstract and idealized modes of social solidarity and bonding.