Social Space in Interdisciplinary Perspective

The concept of social space (l'espace social) was defined and illustrated by Maximillien Sorre in reference to ethnic, religious, and language groups. Paul-Henri Chombart de Lauwe distinguished between objective social space (the spatial framework set by ecological and cultural conditions) and subjective social space (the space perceptions of a particular group), hypothesizing that in an urban context where a discrepancy between these two frameworks occurred, social pathologies tend to develop. This led to his studies of optimal residential densities, neighborhood design, and other standards, applicable to working-class families. A relatively simple analytical concept has thus produced a variety of research orientations.