o papel do corpo na construção da identidade-estudo exploratório em estudantes universitários

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore and understand how the body is important in the construction of identity. Twenty-eight university students were interviewed (N=28; 50% female and 50% male). It was applied questionnaires to assess the existence of psychopathology (Brief Symptom Inventory) and identity status (Ego Identity Process Questionnaire). A semi-directive interview was also carried out to explore how the body was relevant to identity. The results showed that 50,00% of the students interviewed were in a foreclosure Identity status. The body proved to be relevant for Identity in several ways: Identification with the body, appearance and Identity in social interactions, body as a vehicle of expression, and identity relevant bodily engagement. The theoretical basis underlying this study is Erik Erikson's psychosocial perspective of development (1950,1959,1968) and James Marcia's Identity Status Model Theory (1966). Additionally, Merleau-Ponty's theoretical constructs(1945), and Piran's (2016a) and Piran and Teal's (2012) developmental theory of embodiment and some psychodynamic concepts (the notions of body schema, body image, skin-self, psychosoma and muscular armor) were also referred.