O som e os outros na vida e na morte: Percepções da vida e da morte na adolescência

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand how life and death are represented among an adolescent population (15 to 19 years old). It was our goal, as well, to examine how these social representations might be linked with musical preferences and with the opinion of significant others. The findings indicate that life is mainly associated to friends and amusement and death is represented as sadness, suffering and pain. Girls, more than boys, are most likely to represent life with sadness and as closeness to others; and to anchor death mainly in feelings of sadness, pain and loss, in its ritualistic component and in the absence of others. Younger adolescents (15-16 years old) seem to understand it as personal accomplishment. The opinions of others proved to be relevant not only regarding musical preferences, but also in understanding life and death.