In Germany, social exclusion continues across generations, particularly in the fields of education and health. Since this process cannot be traced back to genetic predispositions, it must be assumed that socioeconomic status is "socially inherited" in the Federal Republic. By combining the theoretical approaches of Pierre F. Bourdieu and Hartmut Esser, it becomes possible not only to overcome the dualism between autonomy and heteronomy but also to describe the selection mechanisms at play. This analysis leads to new perspectives for habitus modification and thus also provides starting points for supporting particularly disadvantaged individuals. The fact that social mobility in Germany is not equally accessible to everyone, despite a relatively large amount being invested in the German education system, is noteworthy.