Desafios contemporâneos da participação do pai na constituição do eu: uma visão winnicottiana

Abstract

This theoretical study takes the contemporary fatherhood practices and its effects to psychic development of the child as the main object of investigation. It seeks to analyze the major effects of the contemporary malaise for fatherhood and for development of the self in childhood, within the current family models, trough the perspectives of Winnicott's theory. For this purpose, this investigation tried to identify the main contemporary reflexes to ongoing family models, attempt to bring together the Winnicott’s personal maturation theory and the fathership habits in vogue. As such, this research explores the modern preeminent defiances for the development for the child’s self and for the process to become a father nowadays. This investigation has a qualitative nature and consists of a theoretical study that adopts the logical and deductive method, starting from general theories about contemporaneity and Winnicott’s personal maturation and then applying it to the main object of this investigation. Trough analytical-synthetic procedures, the most important findings were discussed and pointed to a emerging model of fatherhood that results from women’s emancipation and the weakening of the institutions, stereotypes and relationships. Moreover, an apparent transformation was noticed in the way of being a father who seems to be driven by the desire to be a father and not only by the duty of being a financial provider. Some of the most relevant Winnicottian concepts also were used to strengthen the reflections about the challenges of being a father today. To conclude, this investigation recognizes the need for future field researches dedicated to mapping the different models of contemporary fatherhood within various cultural contexts and the importance of diachronic analysis of the manifestation of the so called desire to be a father.