Conduct of everyday life from the subject’s perspective: contributions of German Critical Psychology

Abstract

This paper addresses the centrality of everyday life in human experience, highlighting the contributions of German Critical Psychology (GCP), especially those of its precursor, Klaus Holzkamp. On one hand, it examines Holzkamp’s critiques of the generalizations made by traditional Psychology based on studies detached from life contexts, and on the other hand, the limitations of studying the subject in the field of Sociology. This is because sociological studies approach life conduct from an external perspective, in “third person”. It is argued that the contributions of GCP have the potential to overcome this issue by discussing the conduct of everyday life in “first person”, considering the subject’s perspective, their ways of attributing meaning to reality, and their reasons for action. Thus, this approach can enrich both theoretically and methodologically psychological research grounded in concrete reality and provides a fruitful theoretical basis for discussing the individual/society relationship.