Abstract

LIMA, Ana Laura Godinho. The "problem-child" and the government of the family. Estilos clin. [online]. 2006, vol.11, n.21, pp.126-149. ISSN 1415-7128.

This paper seeks to discuss the following questions: How did we start to designate part of the pupils in the elementary schools as "problemchild "? By which means a series of minor difficulties common in childhood, such as shyness, jealousy or fear of darkness became behavioral problems to be investigated and treated by educators? Which were the effects of the expression "problem-child" in the educational discourses? The article is based on the analysis of texts about education and psychoanalysis written by Arthur Ramos and published in the 1930 decade. The theoretical frame is based on the concept of "governmentality", by Michel Foucault.

Keywords : "Problem-child"; Mental hygiene; Government of the family; Psychoanalysis of the child; Arthur Ramos.

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