Real Life Methods ran from October 2005 to January 2009. This website is archived and no longer maintained. For up to date information, please see www.manchester.ac.uk/realities
What have we found so far?
Here are some of the themes that we know are important so far:
Resemblances matter, but in different ways
- They can help people to feel connected to someone who has died.
- They can make people feel close to others, and sometimes even like they are 'kindred spirits'.
- Sometimes people worry that they might inherit a trait or bad habit that they don't want. People can also worry that illnesses might run in their family.
- People can feel sad or awkward if they don't resemble anyone. People who are adopted and don't know their blood relatives can wonder if there is anyone out there who looks like them.
- Resemblances are particularly important to people at different times of life, for example as they get older, or just after a baby is born, or after someone has died.
People spot resemblances in others as well as in themselves
- Sometimes people disagree or argue with others about whether they resemble somebody or not.
- People often like it when someone notices a resemblance in them, especially if it is with somebody they like or admire.
- Sometimes a family resemblance is obvious to others whether it is welcome or not!
- People can find likenesses between others worrying, for example, if a child grows up to resemble an ex-partner after a difficult divorce.
How do resemblances come about and what do they say about people?
Most people in our study had their own theories about resemblances and we think it is important that social scientists listen to these and try to understand them. The way that resemblances come about and what they say about u s doesn't always fit with scientific explanations:
- Some resemblances seem to be part of our biology, but the patterns they take across the generations of a family, and the meanings they have for people, are not easily explained by genetic science.
- Some likenesses seem to be to do with spending time with other people,
or with the way we are brought up, but sometimes it seems hard to believe
that people's mannerisms or their outlook on life can be entirely learned.
This is especially so when people see likenesses between people in their
family who are generations apart and never knew
each other. - Sometimes people feel quite strongly that resemblances indicate spiritual
or even magical
affinities and connections between people, that aren't explained very well by either 'nature' or 'nurture'.
