Since the 1980s, the life course perspective has emerged as a particularly dynamic research field. It was born from the realization that synchronic approaches are no longer sufficient to grasp the complexity of human trajectories. Instead, this perspective is structured around five key dimensions of interindividual variability: the contextualization of lives in time and space, the importance of the timing of life events, the continuous development of interdependent lives, and the intentionality of individuals.

This shift in focus has led researchers to move away from viewing social structures—such as family or work—as static entities, and instead to follow the unique pathways of individuals and the evolving relationships they create, reshape, or dissolve over time. Individuals are no longer seen as passive role-bearers but as active agents embedded in fluid social configurations.

To understand this complexity, specific conceptual tools are essential. They help move beyond the classic dichotomy between individual and society by highlighting their dynamic interdependencies. The life course perspective thus supports a transversal research agenda that integrates various sociological fields (family, employment, mobility, migration, health, etc.) within a shared analytical framework.

Finally, this approach relies on methods tailored to the temporal nature of social phenomena. Sequence analysis, social network analysis, and mixed-methods approaches prove especially effective for exploring life trajectories in all their diversity and richness.