Fritz Schütze's article "Biographieforschung und narratives Interview" explores the intersection of biographical research and narrative interviews, emphasizing the importance of understanding the structural processes of life courses. The author argues that while sociological theories often focus on collective life cycles and social aggregates, they overlook the individual's personal life experiences. Schütze contends that negative life events, such as unemployment or alcoholism, significantly impact an individual's identity and are central to their life narrative. He proposes that life courses have fundamental structural patterns that are present in all life trajectories, and that systematic combinations of these patterns form types of life experiences with societal relevance. The article outlines the method of autobiographical-narrative interviews, which involve eliciting and analyzing personal life stories. This method allows for a detailed examination of the chronological and sequential structure of life events, revealing how individuals interpret and process their experiences. The interview process is divided into three main parts: an initial narrative account, followed by exploratory questions that uncover tangential narrative potential, and a final phase involving abstract descriptions and theoretical questions. Schütze emphasizes the importance of analyzing the formal structure of narrative texts, including narrative framing elements and internal indicators, to understand the sequence and significance of life events. He also discusses the use of minimal and maximal comparison strategies to analyze different life stories, highlighting the role of institutionalized career counseling and its impact on individuals' life trajectories. The article concludes with a case study illustrating the process of a life course, showing how external events and internal transformations shape an individual's life. Schütze argues that life courses are influenced by social structures and that understanding these processes is essential for biographical research. The article also suggests that autobiographical-narrative interviews can be used for practical applications, such as career counseling, to help individuals navigate their life experiences and overcome challenges. The study underscores the importance of analyzing life narratives to gain insights into the social and psychological dynamics of individual life courses.Fritz Schütze's article "Biographieforschung und narratives Interview" explores the intersection of biographical research and narrative interviews, emphasizing the importance of understanding the structural processes of life courses. The author argues that while sociological theories often focus on collective life cycles and social aggregates, they overlook the individual's personal life experiences. Schütze contends that negative life events, such as unemployment or alcoholism, significantly impact an individual's identity and are central to their life narrative. He proposes that life courses have fundamental structural patterns that are present in all life trajectories, and that systematic combinations of these patterns form types of life experiences with societal relevance. The article outlines the method of autobiographical-narrative interviews, which involve eliciting and analyzing personal life stories. This method allows for a detailed examination of the chronological and sequential structure of life events, revealing how individuals interpret and process their experiences. The interview process is divided into three main parts: an initial narrative account, followed by exploratory questions that uncover tangential narrative potential, and a final phase involving abstract descriptions and theoretical questions. Schütze emphasizes the importance of analyzing the formal structure of narrative texts, including narrative framing elements and internal indicators, to understand the sequence and significance of life events. He also discusses the use of minimal and maximal comparison strategies to analyze different life stories, highlighting the role of institutionalized career counseling and its impact on individuals' life trajectories. The article concludes with a case study illustrating the process of a life course, showing how external events and internal transformations shape an individual's life. Schütze argues that life courses are influenced by social structures and that understanding these processes is essential for biographical research. The article also suggests that autobiographical-narrative interviews can be used for practical applications, such as career counseling, to help individuals navigate their life experiences and overcome challenges. The study underscores the importance of analyzing life narratives to gain insights into the social and psychological dynamics of individual life courses.