A construção da identidade e os impactos psicossociais da inteligência: uma análise da trajetória de Charlie Gordon sob perspectiva da Psicologia

Abstract

This study analyzes the construction of identity and the psychosocial impacts of intelligence in the trajectory of Charlie Gordon, the central character of the novel Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, through the lens of Psychology. The central issue lies in understanding how psychosocial experiences—such as stigma and social exclusion—influence the construction of his identity, considering the formation of stereotypes related to intelligence. The general objective is to understand the psychosocial factors that impact the character's identity. To achieve this, the following specific objectives are proposed: (a) to identify the psychosocial elements that influence identity construction from a psychological perspective; (b) to explore Charlie Gordon’s trajectory throughout the novel, focusing on his cognitive, emotional, and

social changes; and (c) to analyze how social stereotypes affect the character’s self- image and the resulting emotional impacts. This is a qualitative and exploratory study

grounded in developmental and social psychology theories, drawing on authors such as Vygotsky, Erikson, and Ciampa, to understand the character’s identity transformations. The analysis is structured around three distinct phases of the narrative: before the operation, intellectual ascent, and the final period. The results reveal that affective bonds, social acceptance, and interpersonal recognition play a fundamental role in the formation of identity. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of understanding intellectual disability not merely from a clinical perspective, but as a social construct, emphasizing the mechanisms of exclusion that generate psychological suffering and limit an individual's participation in society. From this analysis, it is concluded that identity is not a fixed concept nor exclusively linked to intellectual capacity, but rather a dynamic, relational, and historically situated process, shaped by the interactions between the individual and their social environment.