elämänkulkua
Elämänkulkua (elämänkulku, literally “course of life”) is a Finnish term used in sociology, psychology, and related fields to denote the overall path of an individual's life as it unfolds over time. The concept emphasizes sequences and timing of life events, such as education, employment, partnerships, parenthood, health, and retirement, and how these events accumulate to form a person's life trajectory. In Finnish-language literature, elämänkulkua is closely related to the life-course approach, which analyzes how social structures, institutions, and personal choices interact to shape patterns of development across the lifespan.
Core ideas include the notion of transitions (e.g., leaving school, starting work, getting married), turning points
In practical use, elämänkulkua appears in discussions of education planning, social services, and aging policies in