ABSTRACT
Habitus is generally characterized by a hysteresis effect, which makes its rapid readjustment to new and emerging social environments difficult or impossible. Studying patterns of standardization and social and cultural diversity can be traced back to the origin of the social sciences. Experiencing or studying revolutionary transformations is not only reserved for the founding fathers of the social sciences. In the temporary absence of valid social standards that could guide and frame our social practice we cannot but feel alienated from society. At the same time, any particular form of compromise on social standards that influential societal groups manage to negotiate includes corresponding patterns of social exclusion. Not all social groups take part in the bargaining but are nevertheless influenced by them, often in discriminatory ways. A given level of standardization in a particular social field is linked to a particular level and quality of social and cultural diversity at any point in time.
