Projects / Programmes
Social psychology and Sociology of Everyday Life
January 1, 2013
- December 31, 2016
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.03.00 |
Social sciences |
Sociology |
|
| 5.09.00 |
Social sciences |
Psychology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S263 |
Social sciences |
Social psychology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 5.04 |
Social Sciences |
Sociology |
| 5.01 |
Social Sciences |
Psychology and cognitive sciences |
Researchers (12)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
The program is founded on the analysis, evaluation and reflection of relationships, practices and institutions, which belong to the microsphere of everyday life and the connection of this field to the macro-structural environment. Our assumption is that the responses of seemingly fragile microspheres of everyday life to the macro socioeconomic circumstances are not important only for the material security of individuals, but also for the constitution of an open and democratic society.
The program starting points are strongly leaned on the concept of (in)equality in everyday life, which is not only a result of (false) individual choices, but much more of structural constraints. Namely, the mechanisms for the forming of inequalities are a result of long-term actions and processes, which are, as a rule, invisible or appear as self-evident, since the inequalities are ideologised as consequences of naturalized differences.
The sources of inequalities are rarely one-dimensional; therefore, our treatment of multiple inequalities will consider the concept of intersectionality, which has in the last decade proved to be conceptually and methodologically the most efficient research choice.
In Slovenia, neoliberal economic and political system emphasizes two contemporary processes: privatization and market regulation of until now largely public and universalised social services on the one hand and the individualization of care for one’s own welfare on the other, which is again re-establishing stronger social inequalities that especially deprive the groups of elderly, ill, women, poor and young.
The program group will continue to explore inequalities in health and health care; particularly the restricting of access to health services of social groups with low economic, cultural and social capital.
We plan to research gender inequality, which is increasing in the recent years: despite higher education attained by women in Slovenia, they more often find themselves in the risky, precarious forms of work and employment. They are again experiencing the pressures for the domestication, which are a result of increased demands for care of the ill, elderly and children, whom the state pays less and less special attention.
In the field of exploring the educational inequalities we will analyse the (covert) effects of the marketization of education, where particular attention will be devoted to vulnerable groups of young (i.e. drop-outs, population and social minorities).
We will continue to research the changes in the field of family life and intimacy, as well as linking research results to the analysis of family policy and the efficiency of its measures in Slovenia.
In this context special attention will be focused to the analysis of the quality of intimate life and relationships, sexual and reproductive health, inequalities in psychosocial risks, related to the changes in intimate life styles.
Significance for science
Analyses of the impact social inequalities have on the practices of everyday life, on intergenerational gender relations, are at the top of the world’s social sciences. And not only the social sciences; inequalities in health, for instance, have become one of the key topics of health, although we cannot yet claim this for Slovenia. Yet, the program group is thereby not joining the “modern trend” in science, since this program had been set and carried out already at the time when these topics were considered as marginal in the social sciences. We regard the significance of the planned research for the development in science especially in the following: - Very strong involvement of program group members in higher education; through the direct transfer of research results to undergraduate and graduate programs we are developing “research university” (building and developing scientific disciplines: sociology of everyday life, social psychology, psychology of communication, sociology of gender, sociology of family, sociology of social policy...); members of program group are experts in the fields of sociology, social psychology, communication studies, social policy and social work, who are creating an interdisciplinary research treatment of the program topics by close mutual pedagogical and research cooperation; - Intensive involvement in the international science community (publications of scientific papers in referential international journals, active participation in international scientific conferences, invited lectures at universities abroad, involvement in international research projects); - Exploration of entirely new topics and development of innovative methodological approaches (e.g. the impact of changes in the labour market on transitions to adulthood, the impact of employment precarization on family formation, the impact of commodification of health on behavioural styles, the significance of internet on marital market, the impact of climate and demographic changes on health and behavioural risks, the impact of inequalities and discrimination on the processes of subjectivation and identification, development of new forms of critical discourse analysis,...); - Enforcing of science in Slovenian and international environment: the intensive cooperation with the media, evaluation activities, publishing activities, editorials in domestic and foreign journals and academic publishers, public lectures and group presentations of research work.
Significance for the country
Social inequalities are directly related to the issues of economic crisis and growth, political legitimacy and similar relevant and current topics. Inequalities are on the one hand a consequence of economic and political crises, but are at the same time deepening the crises, especially if the state reduces its role to ensuring the competitiveness and ignores the issues of political equality and social justice, dignity and a possibility for livelihood of all. Results of the proposed research program can support state institutions to shape social, health, education and family policy. For instance, country is committed to meet the objectives of the EU, which should reduce the poverty in Europe for at least 20% by 2020. This cannot be achieved without considering the findings and results of the research of mechanisms, which are causing the social inequalities. Inequalities are reducing social cohesion, which undermines the development and preservation of national identity that depends on the broadest possible consensus about a common life. Yet, this cannot be achieved if we are reducing the social and cultural capital of society, which is formed also with the sense of egalitarity, justice and solidarity. If policies treat concrete problems of inequality as problems of individuals, therefore, if they are individualising them, they are in fact reproducing the structural conditions of inequality. Moreover, they try to solve the inequalities by tackling “risky” behaviours, which is a reductive treatment without adequate long-term effects. The great importance of the program group’s proposed research work for the development of disciplines, professions and public policy in Slovenia is in the following areas: sociology and social psychology and their subareas, policy of equal opportunities, family, health and youth policy. The group demonstrates its’ attentiveness and effort in developing human resources also with the large number of supervisions for M.A. and Ph. D. theses as well as with the training of young researchers. Members of the group are the designers and teachers of courses and programs at the undergraduate and graduate level of higher education. They are also regular contributors, reviewers and evaluators in the field of sector policies, which are lead or coordinated by individual ministries and international institutions. All group members are engaged as experts-volunteers in a large number of NGOs in Slovenia and abroad.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2013,
2014,
2015,
final report
