SEPARATED PARENTS AND CHILDREN: FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR DIFFICULTIES

Abstract

Studies reveal that the legal separation can exert negative effects on the relationship between parents and children. The way parents relate with their children as well as between themselves, interferes in the positive or negative way the child deals with the separation. The purposes of this work were to identify the relationship difficulties experienced by parents and children and to analyse the variables which generated these difficulties, besides promoting the interaction between them. The participants were three parents and three children, with ages ranging from 29 to 41 years old and 8 to 12 years o/d, respectively. The work performed at the University's Psychological Clinic consisted of 36 meetings: 11 with the parents, 11 with the children and 14 with both parents and children. The inteNentions consisted of: drawings, paintings, orientations about discipline, training in emotional expressiveness, among others. The initial evaluation of the difficulties revealed the existence of agressive and unassertive behaviors on the part of the parents. The children also presented similar difficulties. The results of the inteNention showed improvements in the immaturity and isolation behaviors on the part of the children as well as in the expression of feelings on both parts. Although behavioral changes have happened, future inteNentions are suggested, involving parents who do not have the custody of the children, who contribute for the difficulties of the relationship presented by them.