Youth Sociology

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The sociology of youth is a special sociology . Theoretical approaches of young people are developed and numerous empirical studies are carried out.

In professional practice it is closely related, but not synonymous with youth social work . The focus is on sociological theories and research results. In addition, important aspects of socio-historical, educational and psychological youth research are discussed.

To theory

General approaches attach e.g. B. to a sociological term of the “ generation ” ( Karl Mannheim ), to organizations of the transition from childhood to adulthood ( Shmuel N. Eisenstadt ), to “youth as anticipatory activity” ( Lars Clausen ) or to “youth” as Change of communication networks (succeeding Niklas Luhmann ). Youth is also defined as a moratorium phase (protection phase) in the life cycle (Jürgen Zinnecker).

In the area of so-called " medium-range theories " (with Robert K. Merton ) there were - based on Mannheim's concept of the "generation" and with Helmut Schelsky's influential study of the "skeptical generation" (with which he characterized the German post-war youth after 1945) - repeated attempts to designate new generations (age groups) with new keywords; z. B. the generation Golf and the next generation X as well as the MTV generation .

To empiricism

Formative for the origins of German youth sociology was the shared and impressive generational experience of the youth movement , which began at the beginning of the 20th century with the " Wandervogel ". In the increasingly empirical area of ​​research, numerous subgroups have since been dealt with (from the “working class youth” to the “Kanak youth”). The periodically repeated Shell Youth Studies have become very important because of their public dissemination. Current discussions in youth sociology are increasingly concerned with the distinction between the phases of youth and post- adolescence ( postadolescence ) (Hurrelmann 2006).

Role in customer surveys and election research

Generation-specific behaviors and the corresponding age sequences and generation 'labels' given by popular publications and certain time-bound distinguishing features ( Twix or Raider) are studied in election and customer surveys, as age is very easy to understand and check. The scientific basis of such empirical phenomena is much more difficult to create and prove.

Keywords and rough succession of generations in Germany

A baby boom began and ended much later in Germany than in other countries, from 1954 to 1967, a consequence of the outcome of the war, but the behavior of the baby boomer generation that began in the USA as early as 1942, including the role of the 1968s, was recognized as typical with Germany. As a result, there is no generation between the baby boomers and Generation X in Germany, which is discussed under Generation Jones in the USA and Great Britain .

From here on there is a lack of decisive childhood experiences, the labels become more diffuse.

For more details, see Generation (Society) .

literature

  • Klaus Allerbeck , Leopold Rosenmayr : Introduction to youth sociology. Theories, methods and empirical materials . Quelle & Meyer, Heidelberg 1976.
  • Ulrich Beck , Elisabeth Beck-Gernsheim : Generation global and the trap of methodological nationalism. For a cosmopolitan turn in youth and generational sociology . In: Dirk Villányi, Matthias D. Witte, Uwe Sander (eds.): Global youth and youth cultures . Juventa, Weinheim / Munich 2007, p. 55-74 .
  • Lars Clausen : Youth Sociology . Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1976.
  • Ludwig von Friedeburg (ed.): Youth in modern society . Kiepenheuer & Witsch, Cologne 1965.
  • Hartmut M. Griese: Current youth research and classic youth theories . Lit Verlag, Berlin 2007.
  • Dagmar Hoffmann, Jürgen Mansel : Youth Sociology . In: Georg Kneer , Markus Schroer (eds.): Handbook of special sociologies . VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2010, p. 163-178 .
  • Klaus Hurrelmann , Gudrun Quenzel: Life phase youth. An introduction to youth research in the social sciences . 11th edition. Beltz Juventa, Weinheim / Munich 2012.
  • Katharina Liebsch (ed.): Youth sociology. About adolescents, teenagers and new generations . Oldenbourg, Munich 2012.
  • Ben van Onna: Youth and Socialization. An examination of the sociology of youth . Aspects, Frankfurt am Main 1976.
  • Bernhard Schäfers , Albert Scherr : Youth Sociology. Introduction to basics and theories . 8th edition. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2005.
  • Albert Scherr: Youth Sociology. Introduction to basics and theories . 9th edition. VS Verlag, Wiesbaden 2009.
  • Jürg Schiffer: Central Problems of Youth Sociology . 2nd Edition. Haupt, Bern u. a. 1977.

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