Representação social de psicólogos sobre sua prática profissional no atendimento/apoio aos discentes no Campus Central da UFRN

Abstract

This study is a basic research project with a qualitative approach, whose main objective is to understand the social representations of psychologists working in student support services at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). It was developed based on my reflections on my professional experience as a psychologist at the Student Support Center (NADis) of the Center for Applied Social Sciences (CCSA) at UFRN, where I have worked since 2013, when the center was established. The creation of this center coincided with a period of expansion in public higher education institutions, during which a diversification of the student body and their needs became evident. Thus, understanding the professional practice of psychologists in these centers through the lens of Social Representations Theory allows for an analysis of their role both in the teaching-learning process and in their broader social function - especially as the psychology profession marks its 60th anniversary in Brazil. The central premise of this dissertation is that the "new" professional practice of psychologists in higher education reflects a blending of different areas of activity, making it impossible to classify their work under a single domain. Empirical data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Arruda’s (2005) Contextualization Spiral approach. The study included fourteen psychologists working in student support services on the main campus. The findings reveal representational patterns within the group regarding their professional roles, highlighting two dimensions of social representation: Psychologist as a Professional and Psychologist in Practice. These dimensions emphasize the influence of clinical listening in their work and the reinvention of professional practices in response to this emerging field. The results also open up an initial discussion about psychological practice in higher education as a potential new specialty recognized by the Federal Council of Psychology (CFP).