O processo de construção das práticas informacionais no grupo de alcoólicos anônimos Glória Feliz de Belo Horizonte - MG

Abstract

Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is a mutual aid group formed by a network of people who have the common goal of recovering from alcoholism. Members share their experiences and testimonies with each other in a welcoming environment. Identifying the way in which A.A. members appropriate, interact and share information among themselves and how the socialization of this information results in the control of impulsiveness regarding alcoholic beverages is the object of study of this work. This is a relevant topic for study in the area of Information Science, particularly in the field of information practices. In this work, the research methodology used was qualitative descriptive, from the perspective of information practices. The collection instruments were visits, observation and semi-structured interviews with eleven members of the A.A. Glória Feliz group, located in the Pindorama neighborhood in Belo Horizonte, MG. Content analysis was used to systematize the data and build categories, seeking to understand how the information practices used by the A.A. group contribute to alcoholic sobriety. Four categories were constructed and based on theorists in the area for content analysis of the interviews. Disease, perception and treatment was the first category evaluated based on Pamela McKenzie's Two-Dimensional Model and Brenda Devin’s Sense-Making. The second category, Stigma and prejudice, was studied based on Erving Goffman's Stigma theory. Meetings and structure constituted the third category that was discussed based on Herbert Bulmer’s symbolic interactionism theories and Pamela McKenzie's Two-Dimensional Model (proxy stage). The last category, Vision of society and culture, was analyzed based on Clifford Geertz's theory of cultural interpretation. The results reveal that the group's welcoming environment, combined with the exchange of experiences and mutual support, favors the redefinition of participants' identities and the confrontation of the social stigma associated with alcoholism. It is concluded that informational practices in A.A. play a central role in the recovery of individuals, being fundamental for building bonds, strengthening self-esteem and personal transformation.