Is there reason to assume that in our modern times it has become much more difficult to make and maintain social contacts, and has the risk of social isolation grown? Are the consequences of individualization in our society among these risks? The individual is unquestionably more focused and dependent on himself, and less able to fall back on traditional social bonds like church, neighbourhood, family, work, political party or labour union, since these have lost a great deal of meaning. Obviously not all social bonds have disappeared, but the individualistic lifestyle has changed the character of society. The effects can be noticed in personal life, in the dealings between people and in the general social environment. Whereas people used to have a limited number of relatively stable bonds (marriage, family, work, neighbourhood, club life), nowadays there are many, relatively fleeting bonds. The fairly small communities in which people used to live have made way for a multiplicity of social bonds within which people have to function. Within each of these bonds, people have to deal with different expectations and role patterns.
