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  • © 2019

Sociocultural Psychology on the Regional Scale

A Case Study of a Hill

  • Offers the first case study in cultural psychology of a small region in the Czech Republic
  • Provides a theory of human development in the life course
  • Discusses the current debate in cultural psychology on the dynamics of generalization from single cases

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Psychology (BRIEFSPSYCHOL)

Part of the book sub series: SpringerBriefs in Psychology and Cultural Developmental Science (BRIEFSPCDS)

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Table of contents (7 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxiii
  2. Introduction: Říp

    • Tania Zittoun
    Pages 1-9
  3. Methodology

    • Tania Zittoun
    Pages 35-45
  4. Ontogenesis: Two Lifecourses Around Říp

    • Tania Zittoun
    Pages 75-113
  5. Microgenesis: Everyday Life Around Říp

    • Tania Zittoun
    Pages 115-147
  6. Back Matter

    Pages 167-170

About this book

This brief presents the case study of a hill in Czech Republic (Říp) and its region, and contributes to theorization in sociocultural psychology on three points, along three current debates. 
First, it contributes to the exploration of the mutual constitution of the lifecourse and of history, uses a distinction between socio-, micro- and ontogenesis, and argues that a focus on a delimited geographical space enables to better observe the processes by which history, daily situated interactions and courses of life shape each other. Second, in doing so, it sketches an understanding of the role of the material, spatial and semiotic specificities of landscapes in human development. Especially, it identifies some of the processes by which redundant dynamic patterns present in the environment may participate to the guidance of human experience. Third, it expands the reflection on case study construction and generalization. On the one side, it participates to a current debate in cultural psychology on the dynamics of generalization from single cases; on the other, it also dialogues with a more general reflection in the social sciences on social dynamics at the scale of small regions. 


Altogether, this brief is a first attempt to examine jointly these questions at the scale of a small region, a unique natural laboratory of social and psychological change. It will be of interest to researchers as well as graduate students in the fields of cultural and sociocultural psychology, cognitive psychology, and the social sciences. 

Authors and Affiliations

  • Institute of Psychology and Education, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Tania Zittoun

About the author

Tania Zittoun is professor at the Institute of psychology and education at the University of Neuchâtel (Switzerland). She develops a sociocultural psychology of the lifecourse, with a specific focus on transitions, the role of institutions and the dynamics of imagination. Her theoretical work is in dialogue with psychoanalysis and the critical social sciences. Her current empirical work addresses mobility as well as ageing. She is Associate Editor of Culture & Psychology, and her last books are Human development in the lifecourse. Melodies of living (with Jaan Valsiner, and four other colleagues, CUP, 2013), Imagination in Human and Cultural development (with Alex Gillespie, Routledge, 2016) and the Handbook of culture and imagination (OUP, 2018, co-edited with Vlad P. Glaveanu).  

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access