Educação social e relação de ajuda: Representações dos educadores sociais sbre as suas práticas

Neste estudo, parte-se dos discursos dos educadores sociais, produzidos no grupo de discussão, para se conhecer as suas representações face à relação de ajuda que desenvolvem com as populações. Problematizou-se o conceito, analisaram-se os discursos buscando os paradigmas que orientam as intervenções, as definições de relação de ajuda, os seus objectivos, e o perfil dos educadores sociais que desenvolvem esta modalidade de intervenção. As conclusões apontam para a necessidade de a reflexão acompanhar a acção do educador social; para a coexistência de diferentes concepções sobre a relação de ajuda, variando de acordo com as orientações paradigmáticas do educador, a sua própria experiência profissional, o eu perfil pessoal e profissional. Surge reforçada a ideia de que é na relação teoria-prática que se vão configurando as práticas de intervenção, adequando-as aos sujeitos com quem se desenvolvem e activando processos internos, ao nível das capacidades e competências, pessoais e interpessoais, dos educadores sociais. /ABSTRACT: The starting point in this study is the social educators' speeches produced in the discussion group, to let us know how they view the helping relationship they develop with the populations. The concept was held as a problem needing clarification, and the speeches were analysed with a view to making understandable the paradigms, the objectives and the definitions of the helping relationship that guide their interventions; the profiles of the professionals in the group that develop this modality of intervention were also analysed. The conclusions point to the need of reflection going along with the social educator's acting. They also point to the presence in the group of different conceptions of the helping relationship, varying with the educator's paradigmatic orientation, her/his own professional experience, her/his personal and professional profile. One strong idea emerges: the intervention practices get their configuration in the relation theory-practice, in the process of making them adequate to the subjects with whom they are developed, and also because they activate the social educators' internal processes, at the level of capacities and competences, both personal and interpersonal.

The effect of gender context on children's social behaviour in a limited resources situation : an observational study

Knowing when to compete and when to cooperate to maximize opportunities for equal access to activities and materials in groups is critical to children's social and cognitive development. The present study examined the individual (gender, social competence) and contextual factors (gender context) that may determine why some children are more successful than others. One hundred and fifty-six children (M age=6.5 years) were divided into 39 groups of four and videotaped while engaged in a task that required them to cooperate in order to view cartoons. Children within all groups were unfamiliar to one another. Groups varied in gender composition (all girls, all boys, or mixed-sex) and social competence (high vs. low). Group composition by gender interaction effects were found. Girls were most successful at gaining viewing time in same-sex groups, and least successful in mixed-sex groups. Conversely, boys were least successful in same-sex groups and most successful in mixed-sex groups. Similar results were also found at the group level of analysis; however, the way in which the resources were distributed differed as a function of group type. Same-sex girl groups were inequitable but efficient whereas same-sex boy groups were more equitable than mixed groups but inefficient compared to same-sex girl groups. Social competence did not influence children's behavior. The findings from the present study highlight the effect of gender context on cooperation and competition and the relevance of adopting an unfamiliar peer paradigm when investigating children's social behavior.