Triad (sociology)

The triad is a basic model in sociology . Many social relationships are therefore not possible between two people ( dyad ), but only occur from three people (triad).

development

In sociology there is a long tradition of triadic thinking that goes back to Georg Simmel (1908). Under the heading “The quantitative determinateness of the group”, he opens up the sociological horizon of thought and research to the question of what significance numerically determined social constellations have for social life. Simmel shows that the transition from two to three is not just a quantitative increase, but a new quality.

Function of the model

According to Simmel, the figure of the third is a social archetype or the nucleus of the social per se. Simmel analyzes three “typical grouping forms” that are not possible with two elements, on the other hand with a more-than-three number only expand quantitatively without to change their form type. These are the basic sociological forms of the triad

the referee and the mediator,
der Tertius gaudens (the laughing third) and
the figure of divide et impera ( divide and rule).

Current research

In the post-Simmel sociology there are further studies on triadic constellations, for example on intrigue , on mystery or the excellent analysis of the triadic figurations of authority , representation and coalition . Bühl presented a triadic foundation of the sociology of conflict , Allert established the triad as a central category of family sociology, and Tietel developed a triadic approach to the analysis of industrial working relationships. Fischer and Lindemann operate with the figure of the third in a theoretical systematic manner within sociological theory.

literature

Fischer, Joachim (2006): The Third. On the paradigm shift in social theory . In: Soziologische Revue (No. 4), pp. 435–442.
Imbusch, Peter : The role of "third parties". An underexposed dimension of violence . In: Philipp Batelka, Michael Weise, Stephanie Zehnle (eds.): Between perpetrators and victims. Violent relationships and violent communities . Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2017, p. 47-74 .
Simmel, Georg: Sociology. Studies on the forms of socialization. First edition 1908. E-book from Archive.org
Tietel, Erhard (2003): Emotion and Recognition in Organizations . Paths to a triangular organizational culture. Münster: Lit-Verlag. In it: Approaches to a 'triadic sociology' - the analysis of triadic constellations with and following Georg Simmel (pp. 232–244)

Individual evidence

↑ Utz, Richard (1997): Sociology of Intrigue . Berlin: Duncker and Humblot
^ Nedelmann, Birgitta (1985): Secret. An interactionist paradigm . In: Operations , Volume 23, Issue 6, pp. 38–48
^ Sofsky, Wolfgang and Paris, Rainer (1994): Figurations of social power . Frankfurt a. M .: Suhrkamp
^ Bühl, Walter L. (1972): Conflict and Conflict Strategy . Munich: Nymphenburger Verlaghandlung
↑ Allert, Tilmann (1997): Two to three: Sociological notes on the love of the couple . In: System Familie , Vol. 10, pp. 31–43
↑ Tietel, Erhard (2006): Confrontation - Cooperation - Solidarity. Works councils in a social and emotional dilemma . Berlin: Edition Sigma
^ Fischer, Joachim (2000): The Third. On the anthropology of intersubjectivity . In: Wolfgang Eßbach (ed.), Identity and Alterity in Theory and Method, Würzburg: Ergon, pp. 103-136.
↑ Lindemann, Gesa (2006): The third person - the constitutive minimum of social theory . In: Hans-Peter Krüger / Gesa Lindemann (eds.), Philosophical Anthropology in the 21st Century, Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, pp. 125–145.

[1] Utz, Richard (1997): Sociology of Intrigue . Berlin: Duncker and Humblot

[2] Nedelmann, Birgitta (1985): Secret. An interactionist paradigm . In: Operations , Volume 23, Issue 6, pp. 38–48

[3] Sofsky, Wolfgang and Paris, Rainer (1994): Figurations of social power . Frankfurt a. M .: Suhrkamp

[4] Bühl, Walter L. (1972): Conflict and Conflict Strategy . Munich: Nymphenburger Verlaghandlung

[5] Allert, Tilmann (1997): Two to three: Sociological notes on the love of the couple . In: System Familie , Vol. 10, pp. 31–43

[6] Tietel, Erhard (2006): Confrontation - Cooperation - Solidarity. Works councils in a social and emotional dilemma . Berlin: Edition Sigma

[7] Fischer, Joachim (2000): The Third. On the anthropology of intersubjectivity . In: Wolfgang Eßbach (ed.), Identity and Alterity in Theory and Method, Würzburg: Ergon, pp. 103-136.

[8] Lindemann, Gesa (2006): The third person - the constitutive minimum of social theory . In: Hans-Peter Krüger / Gesa Lindemann (eds.), Philosophical Anthropology in the 21st Century, Berlin: Akademie-Verlag, pp. 125–145.