The social processes of the constitution of abilities

Abstract

This article is based on the PhD thesis dissertation entitled The Social Processes of the Constitution of Abilities: a Network of Actions and Relations. Its main objective is to discuss some theoretical references that allow us to understand the sociogenesis of abilities, which include the concepts of Habitus, the structure of heritages (BOURDIEU, 1998), the forms of socialization (LAHIRE, 2002) and social configuration (ELIAS, 1994). The methodology consisted of a case study and the data was collected through a semi-directive interview with each subject, their family members (grandparents included), teachers, coaches and friends; the observation of the ethnographic profile of each ability field and their spaces of socialization; and the analysis of the records and documents related to the activity. The data were analyzed within seven parameters: family models of socialization/upbringing, types of mobilization, intersubjective relations, intergenerational relations, actions directly pertinent to the subject, reference groups and the influence of the social conditions, and the formal learning. The synthesis of one of the cases, related to a soccer field, is presented as an example for analysis. The social and complex nature of the constitution of abilities became evident and some implications of this theme for the field of Occupational Therapy were addressed.