Based on Cultural Psychology and the Dialogical Self Theory, the main goal of this study was to analyze the meaning making processes of a child in her transition from Preschool to Elementary School, regarding her Self-perceptions and Self-evaluations. Using a qualitative methodology with an idiographic focus, we followed a group of children during their last semester at Preschool and first semester at an Elementary School. We carried out direct observations, and semi-structured sessions, properly filmed, and interviews with the selected kids' parents and teachers. This article analyzes Gisele's case study. As a result of the empirical research, we identified three affective-semiotic fields that configure Gisele Self system: to be versus not be pretty, to be versus not be smart and to be versus not be loved. These four affective-semiotic fields highlight the tensions in Gisele self system. According to the results, the transition from Preschool to Elementary School configured and reconfigured several affective-semiotic fields towards the balance as well as the transformation (development) of Gisele Self system. The emergence of new Self-meanings provided for the dynamics inside the fields. We demonstrate how some conflicts and the emergence of opposites may eventually lead to the synthesis of new directions in dialogical Self development.
Cultural psychology; dialogism; self-development
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