The concept of life-course sociology is the study of people from babies to elderly adults; the changes that happen during this process are consequences in for people and their experiences and the process of stabilizing their roles within society. The theory studies how society actions influence and help to determine how people become who they are. Historical conditions help influence personal life experiences for many people who are affected by them; however, the theory is more than just how history effected individuals, it is also how those people interpret those experiences, how their lives transition, or how they transition from one role to another. There are four factors or themes that can contribute to the life-course sociology approach:
