Sexual Identity and Relational Psychomotricity: an action-research with adolescents in Brazil.

Abstract

In a Relational Psychomotricity project, the theme of violence was dealt with at first. The professionals, male and female figures, came across a distortion in the specific movement of the adolescents: there was no place for affection and it was detected that it was due to the referential models of life, leading to distortions regarding sexuality. Having found a new and interesting focus of investigation, the question was asked about how the Relational Psychomotor intervention could contribute so that the adolescents could find harmony in this movement and evolve in their respective sexual identities, finding the place of affection with the adults. The way the professional intervention of the Relational Psychomotor therapists authorizes and recognizes the potential of the person being attended is fundamental to evolve the bases of this identity. Once the non-verbal communication has been found and established in the work setting, it is possible for the Relational Psychomotricist to open the space so that, in an excused way, the adolescents may start to play with their aggressiveness, affection, femininity, sensuality, feminine complicity, etc., reaching the positive adjustment in the real daily life. A qualitative methodology (action-research) was followed, whose objective was to analyze the effects of Relational Psychomotricity on the positive adjustment of sexual identity. The sample included 10 adolescents from 12 to 16 years old, from a public school in Fortaleza, Brazil. The intervention lasted a period of 6 months, with 1 weekly meeting of 1 hour each. At the end of the project an adjustment in the adolescents’ movements was observed, rediscovering and internalizing new models and references based on the symbolic experiences of Relational Psychomotricity. The theme is very relevant for educators, professionals who develop various works, especially with adolescents, health professionals and professionals of Relational Psychomotricity, mainly because it exposes the need to open safe complementary spaces, so that adolescents can experience the affirmation of their own identity in a safe and healthy way.