The civilizing process theory as a theoretical-methodological possibility in the humanities and social sciences

Abstract

Norbert Elias studied the development processes of different occidental societies. Adopting long-term comparative empirical research, the author built a conceptual repertoire that gave bases to the Civilizing Process Theory. His findings demonstrated that there is a mutual dependence relationship between social development (sociogenesis) and changes in individual consciousness and self-control (psychogenesis), present in different phenomena of human socialization. In this sense, this essay aims to present the Civilizing Process Theory fundamental concepts, developed by Norbert Elias, trying to demonstrate its potential as a theoretical-methodological reference in the Human and Social Sciences researches.