Week 12 - Simmel

Question 1

Define/explain; Dyad

Answer 1

• two individuals or two groups
• they are only confronted by one another, not external influences
• interactions are more immediate and participatory than other relations
• intimacy; things are shared between the two parties that other parties aren’t privy to

Question 2

Define/explain; Triad

Answer 2

• three individuals or three groups
• the addition of a third party to the original two creates new links between all parties
• it is hard to coordinate the emotional responses of these parties so that everyone is on the same page, less assimilation, easier with two than three
• once a third part is added, the group dynamic changes so much that the addition of more parties doesn’t usually further these changes, the most significant change is from a dyad to a triad

Question 3

Define/explain: Three Types of Triads

Answer 3

1. Non-partisan and the mediator:
   - this person acts as a mediator between the other two parties
   - this is done by highlighting what everyone has in common, increases group solidarity
2. Teritus Gaudens (the one who enjoys/takes advantage):
   - the use the structure of the group to their personal advantage
   - they do this by manipulating the emotions of the others in the group, he/she is indifferent and intellectual, the other parties represent feelings and will
   - this situation gives him the feeling of a slight ironical superiority over the parties which stake so much for the sake of what to him is so unimportant/indifferent
3. Divide et impera (divide and conquer):
   - this member intentionally produces conflict in order to gain a dominating position
   - strategy: support one member long enough for the other to be suppressed, then the first member is easily suppressed, split makes prey easily accessible for the suppressor

Question 4

Explain Simmel’s concept of the drive towards differentiation.

Answer 4

-humans are inherently wired to expand their social groups and also towards individualism

Question 5

Explain the process of individualization.

Answer 5

1. The Family
   - the family is the beginning of individual-group relations for each person
   - an individual is enclosed in a family and in relation to the family
   - the family constitutes a base from which the individual distinguishes himself from all others, in which, he develops a selfhood, (ex. I’m part of this family but I’m more)
2. Push toward individual freedom
   - individual freedom pushes individuals outside of narrow groups to pursue their more individualized interests
   - larger groups often provide more opportunities to pursue individual freedom
   - manifests in striking individual differentiation, the need to be in charge of one’s own life, and be unique, ex. the rise of individualism during the enlightenment
3. The Objective Mind; widespread belief in individualism and equality, we all believe collectively and have individualism in common, and we sense this underlying commonality
   - the objective mind allows for individuals and groups to create their individual selves in contrast to other individuals, here the social influences the individual
   - an individual is only an individual in relation to social groups/relationships

Question 6

Define/explain: Simmel’s Both/And: Methodological Levels of Analysis

Answer 6

1. An individual AND part of this group
   - complex relations between individuals and the groups they belong to
   - ex. a individual member within a family
2. BOTH an individual and part of this group
   - complex relations between groups and other groups, ex. the family relating to another family
   - both/and; differentiation between the two processes happens at the same time, and both affect the individual’s ability to individuate

Question 7

Define/explain: ‘expansion across great differences’ and ‘individualizing differentiation’

Answer 7

• individuality increases as a person’s social circle expands, while differentiation within groups also leads to social ties across group boundaries
• the social context in which an individual is embedded is extremely important for how he/she will define himself
• individuality increases to the degree that the social circle around the individual expands, larger social circles have more freedom of individuality for individuals
• due to the social nature of groups they tend to reach out to similar groups, therefore groups are always expanding

Question 8

Define/explain Simmel’s concept of the stranger.

Answer 8

• they are detached from any given space and is usually a wanderer
• his position within it is fundamentally affected by the fact that he does not belong in it initially and that he brings qualities (ways of being/acting, ideas) into it that are not indigenous to it
• demonstrates both nearness (highlights what we have in common) and remoteness at the same time (physical and social)
• has no organic ties of kinship, locality, or occupation

Question 9

What is the effect of feeling both nearness and remoteness to a stranger?

Answer 9

• the consciousness of having only the absolutely general in common has exactly the effect of putting special emphasis on that which is not common, to stress their alien origin
• when the things we share are broad (ex. humanity) it is easier to dismiss on them the grounds that you share that with many other people
• what is lacking is a closer one-to-one relationship with true understanding of that individual