Emigração paterna e as representações mentais de família

: estudo exploratório com filhos jovens adultos

Abstract

This research carried out in the scope of the Master Degree in Family Psychology aims to understand some aspects related to families with children where the father is an emigrant, in particular to the transmission of family legacies, the introduction of the law and boundaries and of belonging systems of these young people, as well to understand their mental representations of the family. To study the family implies understanding the construct, to which we refer, and so a brief reference is made on the changes that it undergoes and the transitions to it associated. Given that the focus is on the father’s roll during his absence, his importance and the consequences are described; being the emigration a core aspect it’s important to put into context this phenomenon and associate it to the father's absence. In this matter some research questions start raising, in particular, which family representations this young people have; how they feel regarding the father’s absence; in what ways the mother introduce the father’s roll, what boundaries exists in the family, among others. The sample consisted of six young people with ages between 20 and 26 years old, and as data collection method was chosen semistructured interviews and the graphic tool projective test Dupla Lua (Greco, 1999). As main conclusions we can say that these young people, during their childhood, they saw the father in an idealised way, meaning, a marvellous figure related to holidays and gifts. Nowadays they recognize that it is not true, even so they continue to represent the family in an idealized way where the father’s absence is not perceived, revealing a denial of the conflict. Another relevant aspect is the verbalization of strong autonomy and maturity revealed in Dupla Lua as parentalized child or equitable relationship parents-children, also visible by itself in the relationship emptiness. Once the father’s absence causes changes in the family structure and in each member’s role, it is noticeable that a true relationship is not built up on the parental couple. In that way the authority and affection roles are delivered to other members, not being able to notice a true belonging system of these young people.

Date of Award	10 Dec 2013
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Fabrizia Raguso (Supervisor)