Methods


I. Cultural Anthropological Analysis of Fiction

In fictional stories, cultural knowledge about identity-related needs is represented as emotional knowledge about the social relationships between fictional characters. According to current research, only literary works of authors who have been affected by experiences of change, such as colonization or migration, are suitable for such an analysis. In order to identify the emotional cultural knowledge of a socio-cultural group, the emotional knowledge within the literary works of authors from the same socio-cultural group must be analyzed using a comparative approach.


II. Discussion of the Findings with Representatives of the Socio-Cultural Groups

To evaluate the findings with regard to their practical relevance, the results should be discussed with representatives of those socio-cultural groups concerned. The main aim is to answer the following questions:

1.
How do they evaluate these results with regard to their own experiences? How far should the fulfillment of these identity-related needs be supported by social policies? To what extent do they view these needs as problematic expressions of contemporary identity insecurity?

2.
Based on the findings of the cultural anthropological analysis of fiction, what starting points can they identify for addressing contemporary conflicts? How do they think these issues could be addressed by sociopolitical measures?