Elias Civilizing Process Summary

Elias wrote about civilizing process rather than civilization. He criticized functionalism for its tendency to reify social processes, and argued instead for figurational or processual

sociology. The sociological enigma to Elias is how it is possible that something can be

created in the human world which no single human being has intended to create . Discuss the statement.

Elias attempts to bridge the gaps between micro and macro-sociology, focusing on how structural and individual personalities interact with one another in social change. Elias’s civilization process also has much in common with weber’s concept of rationalization. Having similar origins in the changing character of interactions between social structure and individual …show more content…
Personality and social structure are in close inter-relationship - as social structure changes, so does the individual personality structure which causes further change in social structure. Humans are oriented by both nature and nurture to exist only in an interdependent relationships with one another. It is through these interdependencies that individuals find their selves and their world. They satisfy their needs, and orient their thoughts and actions. As these figurations change, individual personality structures necessarily changes as well. Like a dance Elias writes. The figuration is independent of the individuals who make it up at any point in time. Its character and form largely orients these individuals to one another. But the character and form of the dance itself is highly dependent on both historical and contemporary individuals who make up the figuration. Individual and society are, therefore, inseparable. That is they are different parts of a single hole, incapable of being understood as separate …show more content…
Behaviors that were accepted as normal in medieval societies gradually became prescribed, more strictly controlled or taboo. At first the prohibitions were giving their force through appeals not to offend the others on purely social grounds. As we approach modernity, the restraints become a part of socialization of children and ,therefore, were internalized and functioning even when the individual is alone. Such behaviors became invested with learned feelings of shame and embarrassment on the part of individuals as they internalized the social proscription of their society. Elias demonstrated the civilizing process through an examination of etiquette books on the socially approved ways to perform such natural functions as the elimination of gas. Early works of etiquette that one should not greet someone who is defecating or not urinate in front of ladies. While feelings of embarrassment and shame over these issues were absent in middle ages, gradual development of these feeling prevented their discussion as we approach in modern times. The early advices on passing gas from above or below were to do it while covering with a cough or without much noise. As we approach modern times such prohibitions and instructions could no longer be openly written about nor were they needed. Only with the rise of middle class, the family has become the institution which is responsible for internalizing of such drive