livshistoria

Livshistoria refers to a narrative account of a person’s life, and in Swedish-language scholarship it also denotes a methodological approach used in the social sciences to study individual life courses through personal stories. The term combines liv (life) and historia (history) and is used in biographies, memoirs, oral history, and life history research to emphasize the connection between personal experience and social context.

In research, life history interviewing is an in-depth, often semi-structured method that gathers memories of key events, turning points, and life transitions. Researchers analyze these narratives to construct a coherent life story and to interpret how broader social structures such as class, gender, migration, and work shape individual paths. The approach highlights the meaning people ascribe to their experiences and seeks to situate personal trajectories within historical time.

Methodological considerations include the influence of memory and subjectivity, potential biases, and ethical concerns around consent, confidentiality, and sensitivity to trauma. Researchers typically prioritize the participant’s voice, acknowledge interpretive limits, and may triangulate with documents or other sources to enhance credibility.

Related concepts include biography, autobiography, memoir, and oral history, as well as life course studies. In literary and cultural contexts, livshistoria also appears as life writing—narratives that explore identity, memory, and the shaping of a person’s past.