Socio material refers to a theory suggesting that the social and material aspects of everyday life are entangled or intersecting. This perspective fundamentally challenges traditional views that separate human interactions (the social) from the physical world and objects within it (the material).
Understanding Socio-Materiality
At its core, the socio-material perspective argues that the social and the material are not distinct domains but are deeply intertwined and mutually constitutive. You cannot fully understand a social phenomenon without considering the material elements involved, and vice versa. Objects, technologies, and the physical environment shape social practices, relationships, and structures, while social forces give meaning, function, and form to the material world.
This means that social life isn't just about human-to-human interaction; it's about complex relationships between humans and non-human elements (like tools, buildings, data, and nature). These relationships are dynamic, constantly shaping and reshaping each other.
Key Characteristics of the Socio-Material View
The socio-material lens offers several important insights:
- Inseparability: Social and material are viewed as inseparable threads in the fabric of reality.
- Mutual Shaping: Neither the social nor the material is seen as solely determining the other; instead, they influence and shape each other simultaneously.
- Focus on Practice: This perspective often examines how social and material elements come together in specific practices and activities (e.g., how people use a particular technology in their work).
- Agency: Material objects and technologies can be seen as having a form of agency, actively participating in and influencing social outcomes, not just being passive tools.
Examples in Everyday Life
The socio-material entanglement is evident all around us:
| Material Aspect | Intersecting Social Aspect |
|---|---|
| A Conference Table | Facilitates meetings, establishes seating hierarchies, shapes collaboration norms. |
| Social Media Platforms | Enable new forms of communication, create online communities, influence political discourse. |
| A Building's Architecture | Impacts human movement, interaction patterns, sense of privacy or community. |
| Algorithms | Influence access to information, shape consumption habits, automate social decisions (e.g., loan applications). |
| Infrastructure (Roads, Grids) | Determines mobility, economic activity, and access to resources and social networks. |
These examples highlight how the physical design of objects, the technical capabilities of systems, and the physical environment are not merely backdrops but active participants in shaping social interactions, power dynamics, and cultural norms.
Why is this Perspective Important?
Adopting a socio-material perspective is crucial for understanding many contemporary issues, including:
- Technological Change: How new technologies are adopted, shaped by, and in turn reshape society.
- Organizational Studies: How office layouts, software systems, and tools influence work practices and organizational culture.
- Urban Planning: How physical design affects social interaction, community formation, and equity.
- Environmental Issues: How human societies and the natural environment are inextricably linked and influence each other.
By recognizing the entangled nature of the social and the material, researchers and practitioners can develop more nuanced and effective approaches to designing technologies, organizing work, and addressing societal challenges. This perspective is influential in fields like Science, Technology, and Society Studies (STS), Actor-Network Theory (ANT), and various organizational and management theories.
