Figuration sociology was inaugurated in 1939 by N. Elias but received little attention until 1969. Since then it has developed into a full-fledged school, particularly in the Netherlands. I. Lakatos's methodology is used to reconstruct & evaluate figuration sociology as it occurs in N. Elias's Ueber den Prozess der Zivilisation. Soziogenetische und psychogenetische Untersuchungen ([The Civilizing Process: Sociogenetic & Psychogenetic Investigations], Basel, 1939). Little progress has been made within the figuration program & the few predictions made were refuted. Nevertheless, further fruitful developments may be expected. It is also noted that figuration sociology may be seen as complementary to other existing programs, eg, Marxism & Freudian psychoanalysis. Figuration sociology provides a new, historically & psychologically oriented, empirical approach to central sociological problems. A. Orianne.
