Family feelings in psychological reports on custody cases: From observation to construction

The diversity and peculiarities present in family dynamics continue to fuel academic discussions and guide important issues with social repercussions. In this sense, this research aimed to discuss the meanings of family constructed in the context of psychological reports requested during the processing of Child and Adolescent Custody Actions. The discussions raised reaffirm the plurality of conceptions of family, but also a certain tendency towards normative/normalising attitudes on the part of professionals. Places historically reserved for men and women are rarely questioned, with a discourse that reifies gender roles in an unequal manner predominating. Frequent overlaps between parenthood and conjugality fuel conflicts, placing children and adolescents in the position of objects, contrary to current regulations. Despite some exceptions, we observed a predominance of reports that presented themselves as "revealing" a given reality, fostering ethical debate around psychological knowledge/practice and the effects of the positions defended.