Abstract

MORRONE, Carla Faria  and  MENDES, Ana Magnólia. Re-meaning of psychic suffering at informal work. Rev. Psicol., Organ. Trab. [online]. 2003, vol.3, n.2, pp. 91-118. ISSN 1984-6657.

This study investigates the pleasure and suffering of workers in informal activities through the approach of the psychodynamics of work. It aims at analyzing the relationships between pleasure and suffering experiences, the characteristics of the work's organization and the dynamics of recognition therein. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 workers which own stands in a fair of imported goods in the Federal District. The data were submitted to categorical content analysis. The discoveries demonstrate that characteristics of flexibility of the organization of work benefit the pleasure, and that precarious conditions of work are an e1ement which leads to suffering. This suffering is dealt with by means of defensive strategies, and it is ressignified by the dynamics of recognition. The lalter implies a valuation of informal work as a survival alternative and as a means to cope with unemployment. The following concIusions are drawn: this professional category tries to find ways to keep health by means of mechanisms which favor coping with suffering and the pursue of pleasure. Future research with other categories of informal workers shall be conducted in order to confirm these results.

Keywords : informal activities; pleasure-suffering; organization of work; recognition.

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