ALEXANDRE, T. M. de O. Representações sociais sobre família e abrigo: um estudo com crianças em situação de acolhimento institucional [Social representation about Family and shelter: a study with in institutionalized children]. Master’s Dissertation – Universidade Federal da Paraíba. João Pessoa (PB), 2017.
Available at: https://repositorio.ufpb.br/jspui/bitstream/tede/9206/2/arquivototal.pdf
Abstract: The family is shown as a socio-historical institution and it is considered the main social group responsible for the individual’s development. However, when there are situations of risk and social vulnerability, children and adolescents are temporarily removed from their families and transferred to institutional care centers. In this scenario, this work aimed to learn and analyze the social representation of family and shelter to institutionalized children. The Social Representation Theory (Moscovici, 1978) was used as theoretical support and this theory allows the individual to build a referential on a significant one that is on his everyday reality, interfering with his behavior. Thirteen institutionalized children aged between seven to twelve years old participated in the study. The following instruments were used: sociodemographic questionnaire; semi-structured interview; and Thematic-Drawing-and-Story Procedure. The sociodemographic data were analyzed through content analysis of Bardin, 1977. The results shows that a family is perceived as a group of people affectively linked who live in the same place and have conductions to guarantee its members basic needs; the shelter was represented mostly as a place that guarantees children’s basic needs and leisure activities. In addition, the participants linked the shelter as an environment with attachments similar to a family environment, highlighting the presence of the foster care and other children as elements that brings to the shelter the image of family. The institution does not fully fill the idea of family, which generates ambivalent feelings and negative affections towards the shelter. It was also observed that the participants perceive the prejudice of society and are often represented by pejorative terms that interfere negatively in the construction of the children’s self-image and social identity. As a conclusion, the results may base new reflections to performing of practical interventions in institutionalized children.