Life markers in biographical narratives of people from three cohorts: A life span perspective in its historical context

Human development is often understood as an interplay between biological, s ociohistorical, and social factors, as well as individual developmental act ions. However, historical influences on development have rarely been invest igated. The present study discusses societal change in the course of this c entury and investigates its impact on the life course by analyzing biograph ical narratives. This impact is illustrated by results from a study where p articipants from three birth cohorts (1920-25; 1945-50; 1970-75) were inter viewed about important markers in their experienced and expected biographie s. Although distribution of life markers over the life span was analogous a cross cohorts, participants from the younger cohorts perceived themselves a s having more control on setting important life markers across their biogra phies. Their narratives referred more often to personal and less often to c ontextual and sociohistorical themes. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Base l.