Interpersonal Relations in a Firefighter Corporation: Political and Institutional Implications
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Abstract
The study aimed to understand interpersonal relationships at work within a military firefighter corporation. This qualitative study, conducted in 2023 with 32 military firefighters from Minas Gerais, Brazil, used audio-recorded interviews guided by the prompt: “Tell me about what interpersonal relationships at your job are like for you.” The recorded material was fully transcribed and submitted to thematic analysis, which consists of six well-defined steps: (1) familiarization with the data, (2) generating initial codes, (3) searching for themes, (4) reviewing themes, (5) defining and naming themes, (6) producing the report. Symbolic interactionism provided the theoretical framework, as it considers aspects of social interactions. The results revealed three main categories: “Hierarchical and Disciplinary Culture,” related to vertical leadership style, punishments, and negative perspectives on the environment and system; “Barriers, Expectations, and Demands in Work Relationships,” associated with gaps and restrictions in communication, stressors with peers, and demands and expectations from the public served; and the “Complex Dynamics of (Mal)Adaptation Related to Work,” due to work-related mental suffering, coping resources, and protection within work relationships. It was concluded that interpersonal relationships signified greater perspectives of maladaptation to the firefighter work context. The study contributed to public administration by raising data to foster a deeper understanding of interpersonal relationships in a work organization with characteristics of an extreme context, especially leadership actions, leading to political implications and rethinking behaviors, as well as for the training of new professionals.
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