Life Markers in Biographical Narratives of People from Three Cohorts: A Life Span Perspective in Its Historical Context

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_8130ACD4E261
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Title
Life Markers in Biographical Narratives of People from Three Cohorts: A Life Span Perspective in Its Historical Context
Journal
Human Development
Author(s)
Grob A., Krings F., Bangerter A.
ISSN
0018-716X
1423-0054
Publication state
Published
Issued date
06/2001
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
44
Number
4
Pages
171-190
Language
english
Abstract
Human development is often understood as an interplay between biological, sociohistorical, and social factors, as well as individual developmental actions. However, historical influences on development have rarely been investigated. The present study discusses societal change in the course of this century and investigates its impact on the life course by analyzing biographical narratives. This impact is illustrated by results from a study where participants from three birth cohorts (1920-25; 1945-50; 1970-75) were interviewed about important markers in their experienced and expected biographies. Although distribution of life markers over the life span was analogous across cohorts, participants from the younger cohorts perceived themselves as having more control on setting important life markers across their biographies. Their narratives referred more often to personal and less often to contextual and sociohistorical themes.
Keywords
(Auto-)Biography, Life markers, Perceived control, Life span development, Historical context, Narrative, Socio-historical change
Web of science
Create date
23/11/2007 16:49
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:41
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