---
title: "Social Solidarity | Intro to Sociology"
description: "Social solidarity is the cohesion that holds a society together, helping Intro to Sociology students explain social order, integration, and change."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/intro-to-sociology/key-terms/social-solidarity"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Intro to Sociology"
unit: "Unit 1"
---

# Social Solidarity | Intro to Sociology

## Definition

Social solidarity is the sense of cohesion, belonging, and shared purpose that holds a society together in Intro to Sociology. Durkheim used it to explain how social order changes as societies become more complex.

## What It Is

Social solidarity is the social glue that makes people feel connected to one another in Intro to Sociology. It describes how a group or society stays organized because people share norms, depend on each other, and see themselves as part of a larger whole.

Émile Durkheim is the sociologist most closely tied to this term. He used social solidarity to explain why people obey rules, cooperate, and accept shared expectations even when they do not know everyone personally. For Durkheim, social order is not just about laws or force, it also comes from the everyday bonds that make people feel attached to their community.

Durkheim argued that social solidarity looks different in different kinds of societies. In small, traditional societies, people tend to have similar jobs, values, and lifestyles, so they are connected by sameness. That form is called mechanical solidarity. In modern societies, people do different kinds of work and depend on one another through specialization, which creates organic solidarity.

That shift matters because modernization changes how people stay connected. A farming village may hold together because most people share the same religion, work, and customs. A city, on the other hand, may hold together because a teacher, nurse, bus driver, and electrician all rely on each other’s specialized roles. The bond is still real, but it is built on interdependence instead of similarity.

When social solidarity weakens, sociologists look for signs of fragmentation, isolation, or conflict. Durkheim linked weak solidarity with anomie, a feeling of normlessness that can show up when social rules stop guiding behavior clearly. In Intro to Sociology, this term often shows up when you are comparing traditional and modern societies, explaining social change after industrialization, or analyzing what keeps groups stable.

A good way to think about it is this: social solidarity asks, “What keeps people attached to the group?” The answer might be shared beliefs, common routines, strong institutions, or mutual dependence. Sociology uses the term to move beyond individual personality and into the bigger structure of social life.

## Why It Matters

Social solidarity matters because it gives you a way to explain social order without reducing everything to individual choice. In Intro to Sociology, that shift is huge. Instead of saying people cooperate just because they are nice or obedient, you can point to the social bonds, shared norms, and interdependence that make cooperation feel normal.

It also helps you track social change. When a society industrializes, people often move from similar lives and tight local communities to specialized jobs and larger, more impersonal institutions. Social solidarity is the concept that lets you describe what changes, what stays connected, and what new kinds of dependence replace older ones.

This term also shows up whenever you analyze problems like isolation, social conflict, or weak community ties. If a class discussion asks why a neighborhood feels fragmented, or why a major social change creates uncertainty, solidarity gives you the sociological language to explain the pattern. It connects directly to Durkheim’s broader question: how do societies hold together at all?

## Connections

### [Mechanical Solidarity](/intro-to-sociology/key-terms/mechanical-solidarity)

Mechanical solidarity is one form of social solidarity, and it is built on similarity. People share the same work, beliefs, and routines, so the group stays connected because members are a lot alike. This is the version Durkheim associated with smaller, traditional societies where collective life is tight and shared norms are easy to see.

### [Organic Solidarity](/intro-to-sociology/key-terms/organic-solidarity)

Organic solidarity is the modern form of social solidarity. Instead of unity coming from sameness, it comes from interdependence between specialized roles. You can think of cities, factories, and complex service economies, where people rely on one another even if their daily lives look very different.

### [Anomie](/intro-to-sociology/key-terms/anomie)

Anomie is what can happen when social solidarity weakens or social rules become unclear. Durkheim used it to describe a state of normlessness, where people do not feel grounded by shared expectations. If solidarity explains how social order holds, anomie helps explain what it looks like when that order starts to break down.

### [Émile Durkheim](/intro-to-sociology/key-terms/emile-durkheim)

Durkheim is the sociologist most associated with social solidarity. He used the term to show that society is more than a collection of individuals, it is held together by shared moral bonds and interdependence. If you see a question about social order, integration, or the effects of modernization, Durkheim is usually the thinker behind it.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz question or short-answer prompt might ask you to identify what keeps a society stable, or to compare traditional and modern social life. That is where social solidarity comes in. You would use the term to explain whether people are connected by shared similarity, like in mechanical solidarity, or by dependence on specialized roles, like in organic solidarity.

If you get a scenario, look for clues such as common values, division of labor, neighborhood ties, or weakening social bonds. Then connect those details to Durkheim’s idea of cohesion and social integration. In an essay or discussion post, you might also use the term to explain why rapid social change can make people feel disconnected or why strong institutions can help maintain order.

## social solidarity vs Anomie

These terms are related but not the same. Social solidarity is the bond that holds a group together, while anomie is the breakdown of clear norms and shared purpose. If solidarity is high, people usually feel connected and guided. If solidarity weakens, anomie can show up as confusion, isolation, or normlessness.

## Key Takeaways

- Social solidarity is the cohesion and unity that holds a society together through shared norms, belonging, and interdependence.
- Durkheim used the term to explain social order, especially how societies stay stable even when people are not personally close.
- Mechanical solidarity is based on similarity, while organic solidarity is based on specialization and mutual dependence.
- When solidarity weakens, sociologists may look for anomie, fragmentation, or conflict.
- In Intro to Sociology, the term is most useful when you are analyzing social change, social order, or the effects of industrialization.

## FAQs

### What is social solidarity in Intro to Sociology?

Social solidarity is the sense of connection that holds a society together. In Intro to Sociology, it is usually linked to Émile Durkheim and used to explain how shared norms or interdependence create social order.

### How is social solidarity different from mechanical solidarity?

Social solidarity is the broad idea of social cohesion. Mechanical solidarity is one specific type of it, based on similarity in values, work, and lifestyle. Mechanical solidarity is more common in smaller, traditional societies.

### How is social solidarity different from organic solidarity?

Organic solidarity is the modern form of social solidarity. It comes from people depending on one another because of specialized jobs and institutions. Instead of being united by sameness, people are united by interdependence.

### What happens when social solidarity breaks down?

When social solidarity weakens, people may feel less connected to shared rules and community life. Sociologists often connect that breakdown to conflict, fragmentation, or anomie, which is a sense of normlessness or disconnection.

## Related Study Guides

- [1.3 Theoretical Perspectives in Sociology](/intro-to-sociology/unit-1/3-theoretical-perspectives-sociology/study-guide/1qGPfG5y4Jf8f9mA)

## About This Document

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