Djurens olika roller i behandlingsarbete med unga brukare vid HVB-hem
En kvalitativ studie
The aim of this study is to understand which roles institutional personnel in HVB-homes (homes for care or living), that include animals ascribe the animals for the young clients in treatment. Using the termsrole, role-taking, primary socialisation and secondary socialisation within the perspective of symbolic interactionism, we intend to analyse the expericences from the institutional personnel of what roles the animals are ascribed in treatment of young clients. We also wanted to find out if the institutional personnel have certain expectations on the animals as tools in the treatment and whether the institutional personnel believes that the animals have important roles in the treatment of the young clients.To find the answers of our aim and approach to our problems, we have used a qualitative study where we have interviewed six institutional personnel distributed in three different HVB-homes that uses animals in treatment of young clients. Our empirical material shows that the institutional personnel ascribe the animals a variety of roles, which among others are: friendly and familiar, meaningful, safe, comforting and soothing. Other roles that the institutional personnel ascribe the animals for the young clients are: teaching in order to develop empathy and responsibility; helping in therapy situation and having an activating role. Furthermore, the institutional personnel ascribe the animals crucial, meaningful and important roles to the young client´s positive development. The respondents also ascribe the animals a defenceless and inferior role. All respondents in the study argue unanimously that the animals are of significant importance for the treatment of the young clients. Hence, the animal can act as a link between the young client and the institutional personnel. Also, the institutional personnel believes that animals are meaningful to the young clients in many different contexts. When the animal is present the institutional personnel perceive that the young client is able to bring forth hidden emotions as well as activate the young client and help the young client to trust other individuals.