Mapping the social representations of Psychology: a study in a Portuguese context

Research Report – Social Psychology | Relato de Pesquisa – Psicologia Social • Estud. psicol. (Campinas) 40 • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0275202340e200161en copy

Mapping the social representations of Psychology: a study in a Portuguese context

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

Objective:

The present study aimed to analyse the social representations of Psychology in a sample of Portuguese respondents, thus contributing to a better understanding of the social meaning of this scientific area.

Method:

A free association task was performed by a sample of 205 Portuguese individuals who were given the word “Psychology” as a stimulus. Data were analysed using content analysis, supported by the Max-Qda software.

Results:

The main results show a greater diversity of representations compared to previous studies. However, the dominant representation in terms of intervention is still the curative clinic and the medical paradigm.

Conclusion:

This research made it possible to highlight the need for Psychology professionals, and the entities that represent them, to reinforce the visibility and awareness of the community in general, of the application areas both in the scientific and professional context.

Keywords:
Portugal; Psychology; Social representation

Authorship

Sónia Pedroso Gonçalves

conception and design

data collection, analysis, and interpretation

writing, reviewing, and approving

Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas, Centro de Administração e Políticas Públicas. Lisboa, Portugal.Universidade de LisboaPortugalLisboa, PortugalUniversidade de Lisboa, Instituto Superior de Ciências Sociais e Políticas, Centro de Administração e Políticas Públicas. Lisboa, Portugal.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3704-2995

Clementina da Conceição Lobato Nogueira

writing and reviewing the article

Instituto Piaget, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto de Estudos Interculturais e Transdisciplinares de Almada. Almada, Portugal.Instituto PiagetPortugalAlmada, PortugalInstituto Piaget, Escola Superior de Educação, Instituto de Estudos Interculturais e Transdisciplinares de Almada. Almada, Portugal.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3257-6405

Marlene Vale da Silva

writing and reviewing the article

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5278-3479

Mary Sandra Carlotto

writing and reviewing the article

Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Escola de Saúde. São Leopoldo, RS, Brasil.Universidade do Vale do Rio dos SinosBrasilSão Leopoldo, RS, BrasilUniversidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Escola de Saúde. São Leopoldo, RS, Brasil.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2336-5224

Correspondence to: S. P. GONÇALVES. E-mail: <spgoncalves@iscsp.ulisboa.pt>.

The authors declare they have no conflict of interests.

S. P. GONÇALVES was responsible for the study conception and design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation, as well as writing, reviewing, and approving the article. C. C. L. NOGUEIRA, M. V. SILVA, and M. S CARLOTTO participated in writing and reviewing the article.

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Tables

Tables (2)

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Table 1.
Category system for coding

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Table 2.
Frequency of categories and subcategories

Table 1. Category system for coding

Category		Definition	Examples
Scientific domain of Psychology
	Object of study of Psychology	Explicit references to the various objects of study in Psychology	“science, study of the mind” (Q7) “Study of behavior” (Q4) “Trying to realize” (Q21) “science that studies ideas, feelings” (Q67) “science that studies the psychic” (Q72)
Interventional domain of Psychology
	Personal intervention domain	References to Psychology as a means of personal intervention	“helps in understanding our problems” (Q6) “personal development” (Q12)
	Social intervention domain	References to Psychology as a means of social intervention	“noticing the behavior of others” (Q21) “behavior and relationship between people” (Q59) “Psychology is increasingly important in the relationship between people” (Q1) “Development of social skills” (Q12)
	Organizational Intervention Domain	References to Psychology as a means of organizational and professional intervention.	“professional guidance” (Q5)
	Educational Intervention Domain	References to Psychology as a means of intervention in education and vocational guidance	“school guidance” (Q7)
	Other intervention domains	References to Psychology as a means of intervention in domains other than the four mentioned above	“Developmental Psychology, Criminal Psychology, Child Psychology; Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology” (Q3)
Tools of Psychology
	Methods and techniques used in Psychology	Reference to methods and techniques used in Psychology	“tests” (Q6) “therapy” (Q7) “drawings, games” (Q45)
	Physical space	Reference to the surrounding physical space involved in the practice of Psychology	“Sofa, chair” (Q44)
	Subjects related to Psychology	References to other disciplines	“Psychiatry, Neuropsychology, Psychoanalysis” (Q77) “Philosophy” (Q4)
	Authors	References to reference authors linked to Psychology	“Pavlov, Piaget, Bruner” (Q3) “Freud” (Q2)
	Concepts associated with the Human Being	References to terms, expressions and concepts associated with Psychology	“psyche, soul, mind, behavior” (Q42) “personal, intimate, thought” (Q2) “fears, phobias” (Q6)
Paradigm
	Traditional and medical paradigm	References to pathological aspects	“depression, psychological problems” (Q9) “psychosis” (Q84)
	Positive Psychology paradigm	References to the positive aspects that can be focused by Psychology	“Well-being, self-esteem” (Q40)
Criticisms of Psychology
	Derogatory view of Psychology	Reference to a derogatory view of Psychology	“disorder in its application and in the scientific domains” (Q8) “easy way to make money” (Q2)
	Positive view of Psychology	Reference to positive aspects related to Psychology and its benefits	“helps people to overcome, fears, obstacles in life” (Q4) “It promotes self-knowledge, allows us to improve and empower ourselves with inner tools, it is a way of perfecting and improving our “I” (Q6) “Personal development” (Q12) “It helps to overcome depression, helps to raise self-esteem” (Q2) “Help to overcome emotional problems” (Q2) “Helps in self-development” (Q2)
The client
	Profile of the client	References to the profile of the person who uses the psychologist	“Crazy” (Q36) “Crazy” (Q37) “Sick” (Q10)
The professional
	Psychologist’s competences	References to the skills and characteristics associated with the psychologist	“Listening and Interpreting” (Q2) “Patience” (Q43) “Good person” (Q22)
	Functions	References to the psychologist’s functions	“Help from a health technician in explaining our self” (Q11) “Follow-up” (Q1) “Listening and interpreting attitudes, helps to overcome emotional problems, Helps in self-development” (Q2) “Psychological assessment” (Q038)
	Negative View of Psychologists	Reference to a negative view of psychologists	“Psychologists help solve other people’s problems but cannot solve their own problems” (Q3)
	Positive view of Psychologists	Reference to a positive view of psychologists	“good person, helps others” (Q22)
Economic aspects
	Economic concerns associated with treatment	References to economic difficulties in accessing psychological counseling	“very little recognized science by the health system, expensive treatment” (Q5) “too expensive” (Q4)
	Economic concerns associated with the professional	References to economic difficulties in the professional opportunities that the course provides	“unemployment” (Q6)
Other aspects
	Relationship with institutions	Reference to interactions between Psychology and other entities.	“Science very little recognized by the health system” (Q5) “No support from the State or insurance companies in terms of costs” (Q6)

Note: Q: Questionnaire identification.

Table 2. Frequency of categories and subcategories

Category and Subcategory		Frequency
Scientific domain of Psychology (n = 89)
	Object of study of Psychology	89
Interventional domain of Psychology (n = 42)
	Intra-personal intervention domain	25
	Social intervention domain	8
	Organizational Intervention Domain	3
	Educational Intervention Domain	3
	Other intervention domains	3
Tools of Psychology (n = 109)
	Methods and techniques used in Psychology	25
	Physical space	5
	Subjects related to Psychology	7
	Authors	13
	Concepts associated with the Human Being	59
Paradigm (n = 31)
	Traditional and medical paradigm	22
	Positive Psychology Paradigm	9
Criticism to Psychology (n = 42)
	Derogatory View of Psychology	8
	Positive View of Psychology	34
The client (n = 9)
	Client’s profile	9
The professional (n = 61)
	Psychologist’s competences	15
	Functions	29
	Negative View of Psychologists	6
	Positive view of Psychologists	11
Economic aspects (n = 4)
	Economic concerns associated with the treatment	2
	Economic concerns associated with the professional	2
Other aspects (n = 3)
	Relationship with institutions	3

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Programa de Pós-Graduação em Psicologia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas Núcleo de Editoração SBI - Campus II, Av. John Boyd Dunlop, s/n. Prédio de Odontologia, 13060-900 Campinas - São Paulo Brasil, Tel./Fax: +55 19 3343-7223 - Campinas - SP - Brazil
E-mail: psychologicalstudies@puc-campinas.edu.br

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[1] Correspondence to: S. P. GONÇALVES. E-mail: <spgoncalves@iscsp.ulisboa.pt>.