livsberättelse

Livsberättelse is a Swedish term for a narrative that presents the events, experiences, and meanings of a person’s life. The word combines liv (life) with berättelse (story). In everyday use, it denotes a life story told from a person’s own perspective or compiled through interviews and other sources, rather than a traditional, comprehensive biography.

Forms commonly include oral histories, memoir-like narratives, autobiographical essays, and diary-based life stories. It is used in education, social sciences, anthropology, and psychology to explore identity, memory, and social context. In research and therapy, life stories can provide insight into how people understand and articulate significant events, coping strategies, and values. Digital storytelling and film also produce life stories, expanding reach and accessibility.

Relationship to related terms and distinctions: In Swedish, autobiographies are often distinguished as självbiografi, while memoirs may be called memoar; livsberättelse emphasizes experiential narrative and personal voice. A life story may be oral or written and may not aim to be a full factual chronology or an objective portrait.

Ethical considerations include informed consent, privacy, and the handling of memory distortion or trauma, especially when sharing narratives of survivors or vulnerable individuals. Life writing remains a widely used method for preserving personal and communal histories.