Stability of subject-centered structures. A time-related comparison of thelifestyle model of Schulze

In this paper the lifestyle model of Schulze, which presents the "subject-c entered paradigm" in the field of lifestyle research, is subjected to a com parison over time. In doing this, the analysis reacts to proponents of the "vertical paradigm", who diagnose the end of "experience society" or the re structuring of class society. The comparison is based on three surveys cond ucted at three different points in time. The main finding is that the subje ct-centered structures, which developed by the middle of the nineteen eight ies, are largely stable. The schemas of the aesthetics of everyday life are still central patterns of cultural orientation, They clearly relate to age and education, but not to the income of the respondents. The most importan t change is that the "Niveaumilieu" seems to be yielding to the "Selbstverw irklichungsmilieu". The research findings suggest that the "vertical paradi gm" is less and less useful for describing the structure of major social gr oups. For this reason, lifestyle research has to turn away from the class t heory of Bourdieu.