A VIDA NO CIRCO: PSICODINÂMICA E SENTIDOS DO TRABALHO

Abstract

The present study is the result of research carried out in an organization that Works in the field entertainment and leisure. It is a descriptive exploratory case study whose main objective was to investigate the perception of the workers in the circus in relation to their work environment based on the speech of the circus workers. The specific objectives of the study are: to understand the work environment of the circus workers and investigate the meanings that they attribute to their work, The theoretic base of the research is a psychodynamic approach to the work that includes the following categories: work organization, work conditions, inter-subjective relationships established within the organization, experiences of pleasure and suffering as well as strategies used by the workers in order to minimize the suffering. For the collection of data, semi-structured individual interviews with sixteen circus workers were used. After the literal transcription, the interviews were analyzed in accordance with the discourse analysis. The data indicate that the work organization, the work conditions and the work relations have similar characteristics to other organizations, forming, in this study, a category called administration of the work. The relationship and the liberty in the work are perceived as much as advantages as disadvantages to the circus workers. The workers consider the relationship with colleagues and bosses satisfactory, however the living and working together with the people from the job became a difficulty. There is a liberty/autonomy in relation to the presentation and rehearsals, however, it is necessary to the rules and norms, in addition to the need to be at the disposal of the circus most of the day, weekends and holidays. The working conditions are satisfactory, taking into consideration the adaptation during the trips (climate, noise, etc.). Working for a well-known name in the market, having your work card signed (for some) and satisfactory salaries were factories to represent security for the circus workers studied. The name of the company and the demands of the public, on the other hand, cause pressure and overwork. A variety of tasks which produce satisfaction by accumulating new functions and better salaries also cause overwork. The experiences of pleasure, those of suffering, the defensive strategies and the meaning of work, formed the second category denominate as subjective aspects of work. There is great satisfaction for those who participate in the work of the circus, for they consider the work to be gratifying and permits them to reach their objectives, fulfillment and survival, as well as bringing about a great deal of pleasure and being the pride of the family. The recognition of the public and the press, and the appreciation of their own work also brings pleasure to the circus worker. On the other hand the workers claim physical and mental fatigue with the work. There is also dissatisfaction in relation to the salary, rights and benefits, besides the lack of recognition of the circus as culture and art, by society and the government which, for example, result in difficulties to install themselves in cities. The defensive strategies used indicate denial an/or rationalization represented by certain behaviours, such as: the search for a close relationship with colleagues and bosses, taking into consideration their daily living; the conformity in relation to the work environment, accidents, etc. Considering all of the previous categories, the meaning that the workers attribute to their work have factors in common with other organizations, such as: security and stability of tasks, pleasure and pride in the work and recognition of the work. However, there are the meanings that are specific to the circus in virtue of their life style. The family’s relationships established in the circus plays a central role in the life of circus workers, which guide the forms of work, of living, of learning, of values and traditions acquired by family inheritance.