livshistorier

Livshistorier is the term used in Danish and Norwegian for personal life stories or biographical narratives. In research and storytelling, it refers to the practice of collecting, composing, and analyzing autobiographical accounts to document a person’s life, experiences, values, and sense of self. The life history approach, used in sociology, anthropology, psychology, and education, treats life stories as data that connect individual experience to broader social processes, such as migration, class, gender, aging, or trauma.

Data collection typically relies on in-depth interviews, sometimes supplemented by diaries, letters, photographs, and archival records. Analysts reconstruct a chronological or thematic narrative, often employing narrative analysis, life course theory, or thematic coding. The aim is to present a coherent, contextualized portrayal rather than an objective summary.

Ethical considerations include informed consent, confidentiality, data ownership, and the potential for emotional distress. Researchers and practitioners often involve participants in shaping the narrative and deciding which details to publish. In applied contexts, livshistorier are used in oral history projects, genealogy, social work, elder care, and education to validate personal experience, preserve cultural memory, and inform policy.

Limitations include recall bias, subjectivity in storytelling, and power dynamics in interviews. The approach emphasizes meaning and temporality over statistical generalization. Related terms in English are life history, biographical method, and narrative inquiry.