Constructed Meanings about Socio-Educational Institutions: Between what is Imagined and what is Lived

Abstract This study had the purpose to understand how felon adolescents serving some socio-educational measure, understand the internment and the deprivation of freedom. The theoretical approach of Cultural-Historical Psychology was used, which conceives the person's social construction in a dialectical relationship. The photo-voice technique was the instrument used for data collection, in which they were requested to photograph what they perceive as significant. After developing those photos, there were some meetings where the adolescents could talk about the photos. The results highlight the adolescents' perception of the social judgment of the internment units and the adolescents who are part of those units. The analysis allowed us to realize that there is an attempt by these adolescents to modify the constructed meanings about these institutions and, therefore, minimize the prejudice imposed by society. This change can be one of the possible ways for the adolescent to establish a social life distant from the infraction experience.