Emma Engdahl, Professor of Sociology

Born and raised in Malmö, Emma Engdahl began her sociology studies in Lund and eventually earned her doctorate at Örebro University. She has worked at Örebro University, Aalborg University and most recently as a professor at Gothenburg University. She has also been a visiting research fellow at Columbia University, University of Chicago and Waterloo University. Since 1 April 2022, she works as a professor at Karlstad University.

"My research is mainly about identity development, self-realisation and intimate relationships. I study society by looking at how people and society are affected by different ideals and norms. Today it is common to think that everything important happens in the brain, but the brain is controlled by our relationships with ourselves, others and the outside world. The realisation that we as humans are fundamentally social creatures is actually radical. So much in today’s society is placed on the individual and that you must seek the answers within yourself, despite the fact that our development from the cradle to the grave is dependent on impressions and interactions with others and the outside world. This means that what we do is not only important for our own development, but also affects others and the outside world. This comes with a responsibility to reflect on our life and our values, which ultimately determines our possibilities to lead a good life and live in a democratic society"

Emma Engdahl uses theories and knowledge from both the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences in her research and it is used in education, for example, in sociology and social psychology, as well as study programmes in social work and psychology. But she also provides her expertise to teachers, psychologists and psychiatrists to help with their continuing professional development.

"I also know that many people read my books and are greatly helped by them, I get a lot of comments from readers. I also often appear in the media as an expert on intimate relationships. I am proud of my latest book, Depressive love, which is a temporal diagnosis of the difficulty of creating and living in a love relationship in today’s society. It is stylistically challenging, scientifically creative, with new theories, at the same time as many readers have contacted me and said that it has helped them on a personal level. It is also going to be published in Arabic, which feels exciting."

Emma Engdahl has a large family with an adult daughter, four bonus children, as well as a dog and a cat. She is a devoted practitioner of Ashtanga yoga, a trained classical ballet dancer, has a black belt in karate and likes to enjoy a glass of fine wine on special occasions.