Pierre Bourdieu's Theory of Practice

Pierre Bourdieu's Theory of Practice explores how people's behaviors and choices are shaped by their social context, which includes factors like background, education, and social standing—what he calls "habitus." Habitus consists of ingrained habits, dispositions, and ways of thinking developed over time through social experiences. These influence how individuals act and perceive the world, often unconsciously. Bourdieu argues that social structures and individual agency are interconnected; people's actions both maintain and challenge social norms. In essence, his theory explains how societal influences and personal practices are constantly interacting, shaping social life in a dynamic way.