Gerais (Aug 2011)
O Significado da Mesada para Pais de Crianças e Adolescentes
Abstract
The allowance has become an important issue both in developmental psychology and in economic psychology due to its impact on the economic education of children and on child development. Many parents have used it as an instrument of economic insertion. However, there are few studies related to parental psychology within the context of allowance. This study aimed at investigating functions and meanings of the allowance for low and medium income Brazilian parents. Focus groups were formed with 31 parents from families with varied income in the city of Belém/PA. The data were analyzed by Alceste. The results suggested guidelines, punishments, rules, and obligations as attributes of the allowance, and they also showed frequency, regularity, and fixed amount as characteristics which make up its definition, which allows us to understand what parents are transmitting to their children. The results open up possibilities for the development of effective tools and strategies regarding the study of the relationship between men and their economic world.