Chapter 13: Thinking the Lifecourse Through Single Cases

To reflect on the 10 years of ideographic science, we present a line of studies developed by a group of researchers engaged in a sociocultural psychology of the lifecourse, which evolved a long shared reflection on the nature of case studies. After a short history of ideographic cultural psychology, we highlight the dialogical and semiotic properties of case studies which enable to work toward theoretical generalization. We then present three current case studies undertaken in Neuchâtel: one on the poster scandal in Slovenia; the second on the Faroe Island; the third in Swiss schools. All enable to highlight complex sociocultural psychological phenomena, involving imagination, mobility, and development. Complex case studies mostly imply demanding fieldworks, and difficult integration; consequently, we underline the importance of working as research collectives to build such cases. Our work leads us to highlight theoretical, empirical, and practical implications.