Sexual education from the perspective of psychologists: contributions and challenges in professional training

Abstract

Sexual education is a broad topic that permeates discussions in various spheres of society. This occurs not only in schools, but also in varied contexts, ranging from the family to more informal spaces. In this sense, initiatives aimed at bringing scientific and appropriate information to the largest possible number of people are essential in the dissemination of scientific knowledge. Thus, this work aims to present the perceptions of psychologists regarding the importance of sexual education for the integral development of children, highlighting the formative and interdisciplinary need for this area of ​​study. Regarding the theoretical-methodological framework, it should be noted that both the development of the instrument (semi-structured interview) and the data analysis (praxeological method) were based on the concepts developed by Pierre Bourdieu and his team, which allowed us to understand this phenomenon from a broader sociological perspective. The results of this investigation demonstrate how distorted and sometimes insufficient the view is that psychology professionals are prepared to work on issues related to sexuality and sex education. However, it is worth noting that the participants recognize this lack of preparedness and understand its importance in this process, feeling responsible for acquiring adequate and sufficient knowledge to address the topic. Therefore, the research presented here contributes to a broader discussion that includes professionals from different areas, but which constantly converge, namely Education and Psychology, which tends to bring positive and enriching results to the field.