Life Course Theory - Historical Development, Key Principles And Concepts, Selected Research Applications

family history social time family change

Life course theory, more commonly termed the life course perspective, refers to a multidisciplinary paradigm for the study of people's lives, structural contexts, and social change. This approach encompasses ideas and observations from an array of disciplines, notably history, sociology, demography, developmental psychology, biology, and economics. In particular, it directs attention to the powerful connection between individual lives and the historical and socioeconomic context in which these lives unfold. As a concept, a life course is defined as "a sequence of socially defined events and roles that the individual enacts over time" (Giele and Elder 1998, p. 22). These events and roles do not necessarily proceed in a given sequence, but rather constitute the sum total of the person's actual experience. Thus the concept of life course implies age-differentiated social phenomena distinct from uniform life-cycle stages and the life span. Life span refers to duration of life and characteristics that are closely related to age but that vary little across time and place.

In contrast, the life course perspective elaborates the importance of time, context, process, and meaning on human development and family life (Bengtson and Allen 1993). The family is perceived as a micro social group within a macro social context—a "collection of individuals with shared history who interact within ever-changing social contexts across ever increasing time and space" (Bengston and Allen 1993, p. 470). Aging and developmental change, therefore, are continuous processes that are experienced throughout life. As such, the life course reflects the intersection of social and historical factors with personal biography and development within which the study of family life and social change can ensue (Elder 1985; Hareven 1996).

Additional Topics

Life Course Theory - Historical Development

Many researchers identify the life course perspective as a "new" paradigm in the behavioral sciences because it was not formally advanced until the 1990s. During this decade, rapid social change and population aging drew attention to historical influences and to the complexity of processes underlying family change and continuity. Advances in statistical techniques also prompted the c…

Life Course Theory - Key Principles And Concepts

Several fundamental principles characterize the life course approach. They include: (1) socio-historical and geographical location; (2) timing of lives; (3) heterogeneity or variability; (4) "linked lives" and social ties to others; (5) human agency and personal control; and (6) how the past shapes the future. Each of these tenets will be described and key concepts will be highlighte…

Life Course Theory - Selected Research Applications

The life course perspective has been applied to several areas of family inquiry in North America (particularly in the United States), as well as inter-nationally. Although space limitations do not permit full coverage of this vast body of work, several studies are highlighted to illustrate recent applications of the approach. In the United States, researchers have adopted this framework to investi…

Citing this material

Please include a link to this page if you have found this material useful for research or writing a related article. Content on this website is from high-quality, licensed material originally published in print form. You can always be sure you're reading unbiased, factual, and accurate information.

Highlight the text below, right-click, and select “copy”. Paste the link into your website, email, or any other HTML document.

User Comments

9 months ago

morgan

The family is perceived as a micro social group within a macro social context—a "collection of individuals with shared history who interact within ever-changing social contexts across ever increasing time and space" (Bengston and Allen 1993, p. 470)

Read more: Life Course Theory - Historical Development, Key Principles And Concepts, Selected Research Applications - Family, History, Social, and Time - JRank Articles http://family.jrank.org/pages/1074/Life-Course-Theory.html#ixzz24KBrkWvD

over 4 years ago

This is excellent information on life course theory. I am hoping to use it in the development of modules on "age-friendly communities" from a life course perspective. I have a question.

Would I be able to get the reference used for this information from you?

Thank you for the useful information

Judie Davies

11 months ago

As author of this article, the source of this material & citation should read:
Mitchell, B.A. (2003)"Life Course Theory," in J.J. Ponzetti, Jr. (ed). International Encyclopedia of Marriage and Family, 2nd ed., pp. 1051-1055, New York: Macmillan.

about 1 month ago

Good reason don’t you might try any more in order to really improve your website, for that reason may be less difficult to come back end-to-end your blog in the search automobile. Very good providing these types of motivational expertise in country. Helpful internet, winner.!

about 1 month ago

I've learn some good stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make the sort of wonderful informative site.

about 1 month ago

Interesting, the article written very well, writing technique looked very skillful and has a good sense of humor, let a person think, and let people with a cheerful mood, the feeling is very good. I like the article, the heart be thank the authors of shares.

about 1 month ago

baju bayi murah toko online murah

This is an impressed sharing mentioning the various information so creatively. I am really amused by such kind of sharing.I was looking for this one.

over 1 year ago

Url avid Like Greg

about 4 years ago

Is there a relationship between life course and life history - are they the same thing?