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collective or individual effects is useless, and it is better to refer to an end-
less process of co-construction between individual projects and identities
and configurational structures (Elias 1978 ). Indeed, the fourth and final
assumption of the configurational approach stresses the temporal nature
of all social configurations, which evolve over time. Personal configura-
tions are made up of different ties. Individuals form personal relation-
ships with a variety of people. In line with findings which reveal the
pluralization of life trajectories, as presented in the Introduction and
Chap. 2 of this book, we assume that individuals are more likely to
develop a variety of personal configurations. Some individuals may focus
only on ties related to the family of procreation (i.e., partners and chil-
dren), while other individuals may have more complex arrangements
which bring together the family of orientation (parents and siblings of
adults), leisure, and work spheres.
Kinship relationships are often regarded as being of prime importance
(Bonvalet and Ogg 2007 ), and their availability depends on demographic
reservoirs. A demographic reservoir is a latent web of kinship linkages
with the potential for activating and intensifying family relationships
(Attias-Donfut 1995 ; Coenen-Huther et al. 1994 ; Riley 1983 ). It encom-
passes the extended family or, in other words, the relatives of a person,
and potentially includes four kinds of relationships: lineal relationships
formed by intergenerational linkages (non-coresident parents, grandpar-
ents, non-coresident children, grandchildren); collateral relationships
linked through siblings and siblings of parents (nephews, nieces, uncles
and aunts, cousins); in-law relationships created through alliance; and
fictive kin created out of non-kinship relationships, such as godchildren
or foster children (Johnson 2000 ). The demographic reservoir is the result
of family transitions and events happening over the life course. Having
children opens up the possibility of having children-in-law and grand-
children and, therefore, to be parents-in-law and grandparents. The
demographic reservoir is thus related to age, as older adults often have
deceased parents, and younger adults may not yet have children (and
therefore certainly not grandchildren). One’s own parents’ decisions to
have more children produce sibling relationships. The demographic
reservoir does not automatically correspond to the family configuration
that is the active family network. Indeed, ties need to be fostered and
G. Aeby et al.