Rethinking Bourdieu’s and Mauss’ Habitus through Neurophysiology: Ballet and Habitus

• In Event: 267 - Regular Session. Habitus

Abstract

Bourdieu’s and Muass’ conceptualizations of habitus (how social life becomes deeply rooted in both the body and the mind) have been analyzed, critiqued, synthesized and extended in a number of ways. Despite this, little work has been done to ground or assess habitus in neurophysiological research. Focusing on a single field-specified habitus, the ballet habitus, and drawing on current literature from physiology, neurology, kinesiology and psychology, I outline the social and neurophysiological processes by which the ballet habitus is formed. I then assess the degree to which Bourdieu’s and Mauss’ conceptualizations of habitus are supported, enhanced or refuted by these neurophysiological findings. The assessment focuses primarily on discussions around social action (specifically as related to automatic versus deliberate thought), structure and agency, and the body/mind dualism. In the end, I conclude that multiple intersecting field-specific habituses are a more accurate way to conceptualize the relationship between habituses than either numerous habituses (Mauss) or a single, all-encompassing habitus (Bourdieu). It also appears that the social organization of a field, including the methods by which participants learn how to participate in the field, affects the amount of homogeneity amongst participants’ habituses. Regardless of setting, actors’ habituses—and thereby their abilities to act—are clearly shaped by cultural influences. In fact, it is clear that the body/brain physically transforms due to cultural influences.

Author

• Chantelle P. Marlor, University of the Fraser Valley