Imitation and Distinction. History of Two Theoretical Concepts in Social Psychology: The legacy of Simmel, Tarde and Bourdieu.

Abstract

The Annales Movement underlined the importance of the non-conscious mechanisms which perpetuate social phenomena. Such mechanisms can be understood as the object of microanalysis by multiple social sciences. Concerning Social Psychology, the theoretical concepts of imitation and distinction are found at the same microlevel and have been the object of such a microanalysis by three eminent sociologists. The thought of George Simmel, Gabriel Tarde and Pierre Bourdieu on these topics is exposed in order to show the historical relevance of their contributions concerning these microlevel key-concepts of Social Psychology. As a conclusion, this article aims to provide a rationale for innovative researchers to reflect on the boundaries that separate their discipline from Sociology; the interdisciplinarity required to address theoretical concepts underlying the discipline (such as imitation and distinction); and the relevance of these contemporary classics to understand phenomena that occur in an increasingly networked social world.