Violence Control and the Civilization of Intimacy. Remarks on Norbert Elias’ Sociology

This study is a modest contribution to the reception of Norbert Elias, one of the giants of 20th century sociology. The paper’s overriding question concerns the relevance of the Eliasian big-picture narrative: whether the theory of civilization is sufficient to explain this process or is it possible to include complementary factors? It will be argued that while Norbert Elias convincingly explores several key elements of the Western civilizing process, he does not ascribe due importance to the long-term transformation of the intimate sphere. The paper claims that, from the 17th century onwards, the centre of family-life has shifted from paternal authority to maternal care and psychological harmonization. Hence, it is justifiable to regard the shift of the power balance within the family as a key explanatory factor of the civilizing process

Aesthetics · Balance (ability · Civilization · Epistemology · Explanatory power · Harmonization · Historical sociology · Key (lock · Narrative · Political science · Power (physics · Relevance (law · Social science · Sociology · Diverse Academic Research Studies · Law · Linguistic and Cultural Studies · Philosophy · Psychology · Sociology and Norbert Elias

• The Co‐Construction and Co‐Deconstruction of Childhood and Sociology

  Open Access•C Thorpe•Sociological Forum•2025

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• The making of the modern family

  Edward Shorter•The making of the modern family•1977

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• Neostoicism and the Early Modern State

  Open Access•Gerhard Oestreich•Neostoicism and the Early Modern…•1982

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• Centuries of childhood

  Philippe Aries•Centuries of childhood•1962

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• The Transformation of Intimacy

  Anthony Giddens•The transformation of intimacy•1992

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• Historical Trends in Violent Crime

  Ted Robert Gurr•Crime and Justice•1981

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• Long-Term Historical Trends in Violent Crime

  Manuel Eisner, Manuel P Eisner•Crime and Justice•2003

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• Criminality, Social Control, and the Early Modern State

  Open Access•Eva Osterberg•Social Science History•1992

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• Sources of the self

  Charles Taylor•Sources of the Self•1989

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• Spontaneous Processes of Civilization

  Open Access•Arne Jarrick, Johan Söderberg•Ethnologia Europaea•1993

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• Decivilising Processes

  Open Access•Stephen Mennell•International Sociology•1990

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• The Changing Balance of Power between the Sexes - A Process-Sociological Study

  Open Access•Norbert Elias•Theory Culture & Society•1987

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