A experiência do sagrado nos primeiros anos de vida: uma perspectiva winnicottiana

Abstract

The phenomena of spirituality and religiosity can be observed in all cultures and times, and constitute a relevant field of interest and research in psychology, due to the impact they have on interpersonal relationships, on the sociocultural scope, on the intrapsychic constitution, on the psychic well-being and on the mental health of people. In this sense, there is an interest in exploring when these phenomena begin, based on investigations on the theme related to human development and childhood, but research on this theme is still scarce. In this context, this study will promote a discussion, based on the method of theoretical bibliographic research, about the possibility of experiencing the sacred in the first years of life, even before the child has any conception of the divine. For this, Winnicott's "Theory of Maturation" was used as a basis for reflections on the phenomenon of psychological development of transcendent objects and spirituality, based on the investigation of the psychodynamic bases and the processes of constitution and maturation of the self. The results pointed out conceptual differences among the authors regarding the experience of the "sacred", however, in different ways, they understand it as prior to the conception of the divine, which can occur in the first years of life, almost as a prerequisite for the divine experience to exist. Finally, the research found on the subject is mostly theoretical, thus, it is necessary to investigate the phenomenon more deeply, based on other research methods.