Experiencing identity in the age of coronavirus

funded by the Erich Fromm Study Center

Principal Investigator IPU

Prof. Thomas Kühn

 

Project Description

The project is aimed at analyzing identity work in a social environment characterized by a high degree of uncertainty and crisis discourses. Particular attention is paid to the question of how people as social beings perceive discourses around “social distancing” and what significance this has for everyday life and the reflection of one's own position in society. Theoretical references are made in particular to socio-psychological identity research and to analytical social psychology, for example with regard to the significance of the concept of the Social character for understanding identity work.

 

Experiences and events during the Corona pandemic are examined, as well as perceived effects, for example on personal emotions and social relationships, but also on political and social issues in Germany and Brazil.

 

To explore these aspects, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted in Germany (n=50) and Brazil (n=53) from spring to fall 2020 (up to four interviews per respondent until fall 2020). The data is analyzed qualitatively.
 

Original language: German, Brazilian Portuguese

 

Research Participants

Prof. Phil C. Langer (IPU)
Daniela Alcoforado (UFPE-Recife, Brasilien)

 

Duration

Project Start: 03/2020
Project End: 09/2025

 

Publications

  • Alcoforado, Daniela / Farias, Miriam / Machado, Juliana / Sales Melo, Francisco Vicente / Kühn, Thomas (2021): The daily menu in times of pandemic for individuals with anxiety and depression. In: SER Social 23 (48), S.94-114.
  • Beckmann, Sabine / Ehnis, Patrick / Kühn, Thomas / Mohr, Marina / Voigt, Katrin (2020): Selbst im Alltag. Qualitative Sekundäranalysen zu Identitätskonstruktionen im Wechselverhältnis von Normierung und Selbstentwurf. Wiesbaden: Springer VS.
  • Kühn, Thomas / Alcoforado, Daniela / Farias, Miriam (2020): New Normalcy? Consumption and identity between reproduction of social inequalities and social transformation in Brazil. In: Sociedade e Estado, 35 (3), S.787-813
  • Kühn, Thomas / Bobeth, Sebastian (2022): Linking environmental psychology and critical social psychology: Theoretical considerations toward a comprehensive research agenda. In: Frontiers of Psychology 13:947243.