Homogeneity (sociology)

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In sociology, homogeneity describes the characteristic of a group of people whose members have the same characteristics in essential respects. These can include external characteristics such as origin, language, “race” , gender (external homogeneity) or internal characteristics such as religious belief, political or ethical attitudes (internal homogeneity).

External homogeneity

In particular, the external homogeneity is used in the social sciences to designate certain groups by the homogeneous properties and to compare them with other - in turn homogeneous - groups on the basis of these criteria. Above all, empirically ascertainable facts serve as the basis for determining the properties.

Inner homogeneity

Due to the lack of access to the inner life of humans, the properties can only be determined using methods of social research, in particular through statistical surveys after surveys and interviews. However, in political philosophy in particular, internal properties are often the subject of a dispute over the question of whether the state or society may influence them. In particular, questions about the rights of freedom of individuals play a role here, whose attitudes would be interfered with if they could no longer keep them secret from the state or society. Therefore, the targeted creation of internal homogeneity in a certain randomly selected group is problematic from the point of view of freedom.