Beyond Individual Differences: Social Differentiation from First Principles

Abstract

The author seeks to explain the emergence of social differentiation by developing a theory of information and social structure. This theory makes explanations of social differentiation offered by Herbert Spencer and Emile Durkheim more precise by borrowing simple assumptions from Kathleen Carley's constructural model and from the symbolic interactionist perspective. The author's arguments amplify an important insight of the classical theorists : no assumption of individual differences is necessary to explain the emergence of social differentiation. Computer simulations show that simple assumptions about interaction patterns, communication, the social construction of knowledge, and forgetting imply that originally undifferentiated social systems will become differentiated over time. The simulations show that system size negatively affects cultural homogeneity and positively affects social differentiation. Memory, or the capacity of individuals to store information, is determined by the information technologies individuals have at their disposal. Memory positively affects cultural homogeneity and negatively affects social differentiation. Memory also positively affects the size of integrated social systems such as organizations and societies. The author considers implications of this theory for the origins of sociodemographic dimensions, the study of inequality, and the sociology of culture