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The induction of figurations
Chapter Three – Research methods and their use - Page 104
This idea belongs to the sociologist Norbert Elias (1994), and is a notion that Dalal
(1998) suggests transcends the individual-society dichotomy. Figuration describes the
interconnectedness of human existence. For example, to say that the individual is
embedded in the group is to give priority to the group, and to say that society is an
aggregation of individuals is to give priority to the individual. Elias argues that the
concept that is needed is ‘interdependent people’, and then ‘individual’ refers to
interdependent people in the singular and ‘society’ to interdependent people in the
plural. His notion of figuration addresses both the relationship between the parts, and
also refers to the same thing as social ‘structure’, which is a description from the
perspective of the ‘whole’:
What we call ‘figurations’ with reference to the constituent parts is identical
with what we call ‘structure’ with reference to the composite unit … the
structure of societies and … the figuration or pattern of bonding of the
individuals who form these societies … are … the same thing seen from
different angles’ (Elias, 1978)
The articulation of chains of interaction, and their possible
meanings through translation
This is related to the notion of figurations, but applies more to situations where the
connections between individual and group are less clear than in figurations, but where
phenomena can be outlined and interpreted or translated through more of an input from
the translator or interpreter, or in this case, the researcher.
An heuristic for considering interaction
As noted in Chapter Two Part Two, drawing together several theoretical notions, I have
developed a particular heuristic for the study, which I refined through experience gained
from presenting a workshop to psychotherapists on dealing with difference. This