Abstract
The investigation of family functioning, more than characterizing the structure of the studied families, also makes it possible to know ethnographically the culture of the studied population. From an Ecological Engagement perspective, it intends to an epistemological approach that aims both to unveil a structure and a family dynamic and reveal the ethnography profile of the culture in which these families are involved. Using the research experience of an Amazonian riverside community this chapter proposes to exemplify a strategy that combines naturalistic observations and the use of structured situations. It is understood that the instruments of evaluation of the structure and dynamics depend on the process of Ecological Engagement, with particular emphasis on the field notes. Three types of structured situations are described, based on traditional procedures from the familiar systemic perspective, namely: the miriti, the problem solutions, and the photos. In the end, the aspects of how the Ecological Engagement is a methodological strategy that allows both the development and adequacy of a particular methodology as well as the analysis of a given development context are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The sixth question of the Minuchin family task has the following command “Graphically copy a wooden model that exists in the room.”
- 2.
Miriti (Maurita Flexuosa L.) is one of the most important palm trees in the Amazon, playing an important role for the population of the region. Also called Buriti do Brejo, it predominates in low and flooded places. Through it, it is possible to take the “wine” from the fruit; from the stem of the palm it is possible to extract material for the construction of miriti toys, used a lot by the children of the region; and it is also possible to extract the splint to make matapi (shrimp trap). Its trunk still serves as a bridge between the river and the mainland in front of the caboclo houses, since it floats in the water and moves along the river.
- 3.
Task 1 was commanded “Let’s just imagine that you would have to move out of your home within a month.” I would like you to plan this change now together.
- 4.
A traditional religious procession that takes place in Belem do Pará, on the second Sunday of October, considered to be the largest religious event in Latin America, bringing together about a million and a half people on the streets.
- 5.
The third issue of the Minuchin family task has the following command “Assign labels to each member of the family.”
References
Ab’saber, A. (2002). Bases for the study of the ecosystems of the Brazilian Amazon. Revista Estudo Avançado, 16(45). São Paulo: USP/Advanced Studies Institute.
Baker, P. (2000). Bases of family therapy. Portugal: Climepsi.
Bodin, A. (1968). Conjoint family assessment: An evolving field. In P. McReynolds (Org.). Advances in psychological assessment (Vol. I). Palo Alto: Science and Behavior Books.
Bogdan, R., & Biklen, S. (1994). Qualitative research in education: An introduction to theory and methods. Portugal: Porto Editora.
Brandão, Z. (2000). Between questionnaires and interviews. In M. A. Nogueira, G. Romanelli, & N. Zago (Eds.), Family & school (pp. 171–183). Rio de Janeiro: Voices.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1996). The ecology of human development: Natural and planned experiments (M. A. V. Veronese, Trad.). Porto Alegre: Medical Arts. (Original work published 1976).
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1999). Environments in developmental perspective: Theoretical and operational models. In B. L. Friedmann & T. D. Wachs (Orgs.), Conceptualization and assessment of environment across life span (pp. 3–30). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Carneiro, T. F. (1983). Family: Diagnosis and therapy. Rio de Janeiro: Zahar Editors.
Cecconello, A. M. (2003). Resilience and vulnerability in families at risk. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. Postgraduate Course in Developmental Psychology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS.
Cecconello, A., & Koller, S. H. (2003). Ecological engagement in the community: A methodological proposal for the study of families at risk. Psychology: Reflection and Criticism, 16(3), 515–524.
De Antoni, C. (2005). Cohesion and hierarchy in families with a history of physical abuse. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis. Postgraduate Course in Developmental Psychology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS.
De Antoni C., & Koller S. H. (2000). The family view among adolescents who suffered intrafamily violence. Studies of Psychology, Natal, 5, 347–381.
De Antoni, C., & Koller, S. (2001). The ecological psychologist in the institutional context: An experience with girls who were victims of violence. Psychology Science and Profession, 21, 14–29.
Durham, E. (2004). The dynamics of culture: Essays on anthropology. São Paulo: Cosac Naify.
Eaton, C. B. (1988). The Family Apperception Test: A study of the validity of a long and short form. Unpublished thesis masters, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.
Eschiletti-Prati, L., de Couto, M. C. P. P., Moura, A., Poletto, M., & Koller, S. H. (2008). Revisiting the ecological engagement: A proposal to systematization. Psicologia. Reflexão e Crítica, 21, 160–169.
Fraxe, T. J. P. (2000). Amphibian men: An ethnography of the peasantry of the waters. São Paulo: Annablume.
Gehring, T. M. (1998). Family-system-test (FAST). Göttingen: Hogrefe & Huber.
Governo do Estado do Pará. (2007). Plano de desenvolvimento territorial sustentável do Arquipélago do Marajó. Grupo Executivo do Estado do Pará. Decreto de 30 de julho de 2007. Belém, PA.
Harris, A. G. (2000). Life on the amazon: The anthropology a Brazilian peasant village. New York: Oxford University Press/The British Academy.
Lundquist, A. (1987). A projective approach to family systems assessment: A preliminary validity study of the Family Apperception Test. Unpublished master’s thesis, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.
Mendes, L. S. A., Pontes, F. A. R., da Silva, S. S. C., Bucher-Maluschke, J. S. N. F., dos Reis, D. C., & da Silva, S. D. B. (2008). Ecological engagement in the context of an Amazonian riverine community. Revista Interamericana de Psicología, 42, 1–10.
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Boston: Harvard University Press.
Morais, N. A. (2005). Saúde e doença em crianças e adolescentes em situação de rua: Concepções e experiência. Master’s thesis, Postgraduate Course in Developmental Psychology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS.
Neiva-Silva, L. (2003). Future expectations of adolescents in the street: An auto-photographic study. Unpublished Master’s Dissertation, Postgraduate Course in Developmental Psychology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS.
Noda, S. N., Noda, H., Pereira, H. S., & Martins, A. L. U. (2001). Utilization and appropriation of land by Amazonian family agriculture of floodplains. In A. C. Diegues & A. C. Moreira (Eds.), Spaces and natural resources in common use (pp. 181–204). Center for Research Support on Human Populations and Brazilian Wetlands, University of São Paulo.
Olson, D. H., Portner, J., & Bell, R. (1982). Family adaptability & cohesion evaluation (FACES II). Manual published by the University of Minnesota, Family Social Science Department, 55108, USA.
Olson, D. H., Portner, J., & Lavee, Y. (1985). FACES III manual. St. Paul: Department of Family Social Sciences, University of Minnesota.
Scherer, E. F. (2003). Social policies for water peoples. Notebooks of the CEAS, 207, 91–107.
Scherer, E. F. (2004a). The closure and the defense of the environment. In II Congress of the National Association of Postgraduate and Research in Environment and Society, 2004, Indaiatuba. II Congress of the Association of Research and Post-Graduation in Environment and Society. Campinas: Publisher of Unicamp.
Scherer, E. F. (2004b). Earth-Water mosaic: The riverside social vulnerability in the Amazon. In: Proceedings of the VIII Luso-Afro-Brazilian Congress of Social Sciences. Coimbra: Afrontamento.
Sotile, W. M., Julian III, A., Henry, S. E., & Sotile, M. O. (1991). Family apperception test: Manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.
Teodoro, M. L. M. (2006). Affectivity and conflict in family dyads: Evaluation with Familiograma. Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 40, 385–390.
Teodoro, M. L. M., & Käppler K. C. (2003). Familiograma: Development of a new instrument for the evaluation of family relationships (Developmental Psychopathology—Technical Reports, pp. 2–21). Laboratory of Developmental Neuropsychology and Laboratory of Family Psychology.
Wagley, C. (1952). Man in the Amazon. Gainesville: The University Press of Florida.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
da Costa Silva, S.S., Pontes, F.A.R., da Silva, S.D.B., Reis, D.C., Mendes, L.S.A. (2019). Analysis of the Familiar Functioning of Amazonian Riverside Communities: Ecological Engagement, Naturalistic Observations, and Use of Structured Situations. In: Koller, S., Paludo, S., de Morais, N. (eds) Ecological Engagement. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27905-9_15
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27905-9_15
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-27904-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-27905-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)