Applying a Psychosocial Framework to Explore Class as Lived, Experienced, and Felt. Suggestions for an Updated Conceptualization of Class and Social Position

In this article, we discuss the relevance and implications of class in contemporary Western society, emphasizing the importance of incorporating a qualitative, cultural class perspective into psychosocial research. We present five key discussions on the concept of class, and we propose that a psycho...

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Main Authors: Iben Charlotte Aamann, Liveng Anne
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: FQS 2025-01-01
Series:Forum: Qualitative Social Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/4214
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author Iben Charlotte Aamann
Liveng Anne
author_facet Iben Charlotte Aamann
Liveng Anne
author_sort Iben Charlotte Aamann
collection DOAJ
description In this article, we discuss the relevance and implications of class in contemporary Western society, emphasizing the importance of incorporating a qualitative, cultural class perspective into psychosocial research. We present five key discussions on the concept of class, and we propose that a psychosocial framework could offer elaborate and nuanced understandings of how class is manifested in post-welfare societies. The five discussions are: a redefined concept of class consciousness; social mobility as class journeys; development of a middle-class sociology; class configurations concerning forms of subjectivity; and finally, healthism's scapegoating of disadvantaged people. We argue that psychosocial research holds the potential to critically examine implications of class within capitalism as a governing system, such as how class is lived, experienced, and felt in a post- welfare context. However, one must acknowledge the challenges involved in applying concepts across different societal structures and cultures, and we therefore call for a methodological rethink to accommodate new forms of value and social divisions in contemporary society. Overall, we underscore the importance of class analysis in addressing social inequality and resisting the individualization of structural inequality.
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spelling doaj-art-af7e8da3db8c4f3f95205e3126e5ff062025-08-20T02:30:24ZdeuFQSForum: Qualitative Social Research1438-56272025-01-0126110.17169/fqs-26.1.4214Applying a Psychosocial Framework to Explore Class as Lived, Experienced, and Felt. Suggestions for an Updated Conceptualization of Class and Social PositionIben Charlotte Aamann0Liveng Anne1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5920-3492Roskilde UniversityRoskilde UniversityIn this article, we discuss the relevance and implications of class in contemporary Western society, emphasizing the importance of incorporating a qualitative, cultural class perspective into psychosocial research. We present five key discussions on the concept of class, and we propose that a psychosocial framework could offer elaborate and nuanced understandings of how class is manifested in post-welfare societies. The five discussions are: a redefined concept of class consciousness; social mobility as class journeys; development of a middle-class sociology; class configurations concerning forms of subjectivity; and finally, healthism's scapegoating of disadvantaged people. We argue that psychosocial research holds the potential to critically examine implications of class within capitalism as a governing system, such as how class is lived, experienced, and felt in a post- welfare context. However, one must acknowledge the challenges involved in applying concepts across different societal structures and cultures, and we therefore call for a methodological rethink to accommodate new forms of value and social divisions in contemporary society. Overall, we underscore the importance of class analysis in addressing social inequality and resisting the individualization of structural inequality. https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/4214psychosocial theory;qualitative methodsclassrespectabilitysocial inequalitypost welfare
spellingShingle Iben Charlotte Aamann
Liveng Anne
Applying a Psychosocial Framework to Explore Class as Lived, Experienced, and Felt. Suggestions for an Updated Conceptualization of Class and Social Position
Forum: Qualitative Social Research
psychosocial theory;
qualitative methods
class
respectability
social inequality
post welfare
title Applying a Psychosocial Framework to Explore Class as Lived, Experienced, and Felt. Suggestions for an Updated Conceptualization of Class and Social Position
title_full Applying a Psychosocial Framework to Explore Class as Lived, Experienced, and Felt. Suggestions for an Updated Conceptualization of Class and Social Position
title_fullStr Applying a Psychosocial Framework to Explore Class as Lived, Experienced, and Felt. Suggestions for an Updated Conceptualization of Class and Social Position
title_full_unstemmed Applying a Psychosocial Framework to Explore Class as Lived, Experienced, and Felt. Suggestions for an Updated Conceptualization of Class and Social Position
title_short Applying a Psychosocial Framework to Explore Class as Lived, Experienced, and Felt. Suggestions for an Updated Conceptualization of Class and Social Position
title_sort applying a psychosocial framework to explore class as lived experienced and felt suggestions for an updated conceptualization of class and social position
topic psychosocial theory;
qualitative methods
class
respectability
social inequality
post welfare
url https://www.qualitative-research.net/index.php/fqs/article/view/4214
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AT livenganne applyingapsychosocialframeworktoexploreclassaslivedexperiencedandfeltsuggestionsforanupdatedconceptualizationofclassandsocialposition