Abstract

NONATO, Vitória Catarina  and  MODESTO, João Gabriel. Social representations regarding firearms. Psicol. teor. prat. [online]. 2021, vol.23, n.1, pp. 01-26. ISSN 1516-3687.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1980-6906/ePTPSP12622.

ABSTRACT Discussions about firearms have become usual in the Brazilian context, implying a wide range of arguments and positions among individuals. In view of this wide array of opinions and the concrete episodes involving firearms, the present study aimed to analyze firearms' social representations. The sample consisted of 100 participants, ranging from 19 to 66 years old (M = 34.31; SD = 12.12). Participants responded to a word evocation questionnaire, an open-ended question on firearm carrying permit, and reported demographic data. The openEvoc and Iramuteq software were used for data analysis. At their core, social representations concerning firearms were characterized by the perception of death, succeeded by the following elements: violence, security, danger, defense, and protection, simultaneously encompassing an ambiguity between risk and protection.

Keywords : social representations; structural approach; firearm; firearm permit; violence.

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