The care habitus: an approach from collective memory and figurational sociology

Abstract

Introduction: The study addressed the relationship between collective memory, habitus and figurational theory in care practices. Based on Norbert Elias' figurational sociology, care was understood as relational practices in constant transformation. In turn, the impact of collective memory on the transmission of values and norms that regulate these practices over time was analyzed. The research took into account the influence of social structures, gender and individual agency in the configuration of the care habitus.
Development: The analysis was based on figurational theory, which conceives of society as networks of interdependence. Elias argued that individuals are shaped in their interaction with others, which generates dynamic and changing structures. Through the concept of habitus, it was identified that care is not only instrumental actions, but also symbolic practices that are internalized over time. Collective memory allowed for the continuity of these dispositions, while enabling changes in the norms and meanings of caregiving according to sociocultural transformations. Likewise, the link between memory-habit and image-memory by Zenia Yébenes was explored, highlighting how past experiences influence present and future practices.
Conclusion: The study concluded that care practices are part of historical and relational processes, where collective memory, habitus and figuration interact in the configuration of social dispositions. Care is not an isolated act, but a dynamic process influenced by norms, power relations and subjective experiences. Finally, the importance of understanding care from a comprehensive perspective that considers its evolution and its role in social reproduction was highlighted.