Submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the degree MASTER OF EDUCATION in the Department of Educational Psychology of the Faculty of Education at the University of Zululand, 1997. / The aim of this investigation was to establish the parental authority perspectives of grade one parents by means of a literature and empirical study. As introduction the life-world of the grade one child was reviewed. Life-world is the world in which people conduct both a way of life and mode of being and can be represented as a network of relationships with himself, others, objects and ideas and God. This Gestalt of meaningful relationships makes up the individual's life-world. The grade one child's self-image, the outcome of the relationships with himself, is formed mainly through his relations with people and objects and strongly influences the quality of these relationships. The relationship with parents is qualified by love which implies mutual knowledge, care, trust and authority. Parents who educate their children according to strict, but fair authority, give them security and diroinish doubt and anxiety. The different authority styles of parents were discussed. Some parents adopt an authoritarian parenting style whereby they are the ones in control and decide on all activities and procedures for the children. On the other extreme, parents exert a permissive style of exercising authority which allows the child total freedom to do what he pleases with very little or no discipline and punishment. The most accountable parenting style seems to be exercised by democratic parents. These parents set broad limits, give advice, encourage their children, allow for open communication between parent and child and exercise authority positively. For the purpose of the empirical investigation a self-structured questionnaire was utilized. An analysis was done of 80 questionnaires completed by the parents of grade one children attending schools in Umkomaas. The data thus obtained was processed and interpreted by means of descriptive statistics. In conclusion, a summary and findings emanating from the literature study and the descriptive statistics were presented. Based on these findings, the following recommendations were made: The re-assertion of parents as authoritative figures. Guidance and involvement programmes for parents. That further research must be done regarding the parental authority perspectives of grade one parents.

L’étude de la puissance paternelle de la mère sur les enfants légitimes de 1804 à 1970 retrace l’évolution de l’autorité de la mère et la place qui lui est faite dans l’organisation de la famille au sein du Code civil. Toutes les situations familiales sont envisagées afin de faire ressortir l’autorité de la mère sous différentes formes, que l’exercice de cette puissance soit commun, subordonné ou direct lorsque la mère devient chef de famille. Le raisonnement de départ et son évolution ultérieure sont appréhendés dans le cadre d’un processus historique évolutif en faveur de cette puissance paternelle de la mère. Au-delà du champ strictement juridique, certaines questions corrélatives sur la condition de la femme, l’émergence du féminisme, des guerres et de l’industrialisation retracent en définitive la place de la femme au sein de la famille et de la société. Fruit de métamorphoses politiques, économiques et sociales, la loi du 4 juin 1970 viendra mettre dans les mots ce que les faits appellent depuis longtemps, à savoir une autorité parentale commune au père et à la mère. / This study of a mother's parental power over children born in lawful wedlock from 1804 to 1970, traces the evolution of matriarchal authority and a mother's place within the family structure, pursuant to the Civil Code. Every kind of family situation is contemplated in order to highlight matriarchal authority in its different forms, whether the exercise of this power is common, subordinated, or direct, when the mother becomes the head of the family. Initial reasoning and subsequent developments thereto are explored within the context of an evolutionary historical process to examine a mother's parental power. Beyond the strictly legal field, certain correlative questions relating to the status of women, the emergence of feminism, wars and industrialisation, ultimately retrace the place of women within families and society. As a product of political, economic and social transformations, the law of June 4, 1970, came to enact facts that had been called for by society for a long time, namely, joint parental authority shared by both the father and the mother.

O estudo sobre o tema proposto no presente trabalho somente se tornou possível a partir da mudança paradigmática introduzida pela Constituição Federal de 1988. Ao consagrar a dignidade da pessoa humana como fundamento do Estado Democrático de Direito, a Constituição Federal colocou a proteção do ser humano como valor central do ordenamento jurídico, estabelecendo princípios norteadores do direito de família, tais como o da solidariedade, da igualdade, do pluralismo das entidades familiares e do melhor interesse da criança e do adolescente. É nesse contexto que surge o princípio da afetividade, sobre o qual as relações familiares, em especial a de parentalidade, devem estar baseadas. Trata-se, contudo, de princípio cujo conteúdo é de difícil delimitação. Isso porque sua expressão é o afeto, usualmente entendido como sinônimo de amor, o que o desvincularia de qualquer dever jurídico. Ocorre que o princípio da afetividade não se relaciona à ideia de sentimento, mas à dedicação que os pais devem ter com a criação e a formação dos filhos menores, o que se dá por meio de comportamentos pró-afetivos. Refere-se, assim, ao cumprimento dos deveres de ordem imaterial do poder familiar, quais sejam o de criação, educação, companhia e guarda, que efetivamente colocam os filhos sob a proteção e o amparo dos pais. O descumprimento voluntário e injustificado desses deveres caracteriza o abandono afetivo. Porém, se o vínculo afetivo é rompido em decorrência da conduta do genitor guardião, que impede a convivência familiar, não há abandono afetivo, eis que descaracterizado pela prática de alienação parental. Configurado o abandono, questiona-se a possibilidade de se aplicar o instituto da responsabilidade civil à relação de parentalidade. Na hipótese dos pais que abandonam afetivamente os filhos menores é plenamente possível que todos os elementos da responsabilidade civil subjetiva conduta contrária à ordem jurídica, culpa, dano e nexo causal se façam presentes, surgindo, por conseguinte, o dever de indenizar os danos morais e materiais causados. / The study about the theme proposed in this work only became possible due to the paradigmatic change introduced by the Federal Constitution of 1988. By approving the human dignity as a Democratic Rule of Law foundation, the Federal Constitution set the human being protection as the central value of the legal system, establishing principles of family law, such as solidarity, equality, pluralism of family forms and best interest of child. It is in this context that arises the principle of affectivity, on which family relationships, especially the parental one, must be based. It is, however, a principle whose content is difficult to delimit. That is because its expression is the affection, generally understood as synonym of love, what would detach it from any legal obligation. Yet, the principle of affectivity is not related to the idea of feeling, but to the dedication that parents must have with the raising and development of their young children, which occurs by pro-affective behaviors. It refers, therefore, to the fulfillment of the immaterial duties of the parental authority, namely raising, education, company and custody, which effectively put children under protection and support of parents. The voluntary and unjustified breach of these duties characterize the affective abandonment. Nevertheless, if the affective bond is broken due to the guardian behavior that forbids family relationship, there is no affective abandonment as it results from the parental alienation. Characterized the abandonment, it is questioned the possibility of applying the liabilitys institute to the parental relationship. In the case of affective abandonment it is entirely possible that all liabilitys elements breach of duty, fault, damage and factual causation be present, resulting, as a consequence, in the duty to indemnify the moral and material damages caused.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T14:53:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sergio Luis Braghini.pdf: 824240 bytes, checksum: 04043dd37d30a6e55702c3ea65a26063 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-05-23 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The objective of this work is to study the youth, for what it means to pass the family to the social world, and therefore show traces of social change. Our reflections on youth were located in the reading of social scientists, historians, psychoanalysts, and other authors, books, theses and scientific journals in psychology, social sciences and humanities. These readings allowed the path of reflection on the issue of youth in post-modernity and the implications of studies about the decline of the paternal imago, the image that is made of youth. We asked: Is it possible to observe through a historical survey, the decline of paternal authority as to how this idea is presented in the thesis of Jacques Lacan? My hypothesis is that these remains on the decline of paternal authority are recorded in the images of fiction films that demonstrate the social portrait of youth to the present day. To this end, we conducted a film looks back to youth culture between the years 1950 to 2008. It is understood that film is a cultural product registered in a particular historical time partner, is through him that support my thesis. Our hypothesis that the traces on the decline of paternal authority are recorded in the images of fiction films has been confirmed, but not confirmed that there would be a loss of the paternal role, the way Lacan theorized after 1953. What we found in our research is that the decline of symbolic efficacy of the paternal function does not necessarily involve, the decline of paternal authority. We can say that the crisis of legitimacy of authority is no place, because the referential postmodern, as the organizer of great symbolic narrative of this period in capitalism has been the market / O objetivo deste trabalho é o de estudar a juventude, pelo que ela implica de passagem do mundo familiar ao social, e pelo que mostra de vestígio das mutações sociais. Nossas reflexões sobre a juventude foram localizadas na leitura de cientistas sociais, historiadores, psicanalistas e outros autores, em livros, teses, e revistas cientificas em psicologia, ciências sociais e humanas. Tais leituras possibilitaram o caminho de reflexão sobre a questão da juventude na pós-modernidade e as implicações dos estudos sobre o declínio da imago paterna, na imagem que se faz da juventude. Perguntamos: é possível observar, por meio de um levantamento histórico, o declínio da autoridade paterna da forma como essa ideia se apresenta na tese de Jacques Lacan? Minha hipótese é a de que esses vestígios sobre o declínio da autoridade paterna estão registrados nas imagens dos filmes de ficção que demonstram os retratos sociais da juventude dos anos 1950 aos dias presentes. Para tanto, foi feita uma análise de filmes voltando os olhares para a cultura jovem entre os anos 1950 a 2008. Entende-se que um filme é produto cultural inscrito em um determinado momento sócio histórico, é por meio dele que amparo a minha tese. Nossa hipótese de que os vestígios sobre o declínio da autoridade paterna estão registrados nas imagens dos filmes de ficção se confirmou, mas não se confirmou que haveria um desaparecimento da função paterna, da forma como Lacan a teorizou após 1953. O que encontramos em nossa pesquisa é que o declínio da eficácia simbólica da função paterna não envolve necessariamente, a decadência da autoridade paterna. Podemos dizer que a crise de legitimidade de autoridade se encontra sem lugar, pois o referencial pós-moderno, o organizador como grande narrativa simbólica desse período no capitalismo tem sido o Mercado

Trata-se de estudo sobre a responsabilidade dos pais em caso de ato ilícito cometido pelo filho menor. Nos termos do artigo 932, I, do atual Código Civil brasileiro, os pais respondem pelos atos dos filhos que estiverem sob sua autoridade e em sua companhia. Nesse sentido, intenta-se esclarecer conceitos como paternidade, autoridade e companhia a fim de melhor compreender o alcance da norma. O exercício da autoridade parental e a garantia da vítima serão apresentados como fundamentos do dever dos pais de reparar os danos causados por seus filhos. Partindo-se desses fundamentos, busca-se também nova abordagem do instituto do poder familiar, levando em consideração a mudança na concepção das famílias nos últimos anos. O desempenho da autoridade por outras figuras, como os avós e os padrastos, permitem reflexões em torno da responsabilidade sobre os menores que estão sob seus cuidados, principalmente no que pertine ao dever de reparar os danos causados. Acerca do fenômeno da responsabilidade civil, atenta-se para a grande preocupação com a vítima, merecedora de indenização pelos prejuízos sofridos. A possibilidade de atingir o patrimônio de terceiros, independente da caracterização da culpa, sinaliza a garantia dada ao ofendido. A mesma importância merece o interesse do menor, seja no que diz respeito ao seu patrimônio, seja em suas relações existenciais. Em razão disso, o estudo também aborda o ato ilícito cometido por menores, partindo de uma releitura do regime das capacidades, a fim de considerar a análise da conduta culposa do ofensor a partir do seu possível discernimento. Os princípios constitucionais como melhor interesse da criança e do adolescente, dignidade da pessoa humana, solidariedade, igualdade e paternidade responsável figuram como diretrizes à compreensão do tema. / This study investigates parents responsibility in case of a tort committed by their minor child. Under Article 932, I, of the current Brazilian Civil Code, parents are liable for the acts of their children who are under their authority and in their company. In this paper, an attempt is made to clarify the concepts paternity, authority and company in order to better understand the scope of the rule. The authority over the children and victims guarantee will be presented as main parents responsibility to repair the damage caused by their kids. The study also seeks a new approach to define family power, taking into account the recent change of family definition. The authority of other people related to the child, such as grandparents or stepparents, brings some concerns about who has responsibilities over the minors, mainly related to the obligations of damage repair. Considering civil responsibility, it is important to compensate the victim for damages suffered. Being able to take part of the patrimony of any person responsible for the kid seems like a guarantee offered to the injured. The same value has been given to the lawbreaker, considering his patrimonial and no patrimonial goods. The study also reexamines the concept of the tort when committed by a minor. Starting from the idea of capacity, it reconsiders how the tort committed by a child must be analyzed. Adherence to constitutional principles in the best interests of the child or adolescent, as well as human dignity, solidarity, equality and responsible parenthood must all be used as guidelines for understanding the whole topic.

Trata-se de estudo sobre a responsabilidade dos pais em caso de ato ilícito cometido pelo filho menor. Nos termos do artigo 932, I, do atual Código Civil brasileiro, os pais respondem pelos atos dos filhos que estiverem sob sua autoridade e em sua companhia. Nesse sentido, intenta-se esclarecer conceitos como paternidade, autoridade e companhia a fim de melhor compreender o alcance da norma. O exercício da autoridade parental e a garantia da vítima serão apresentados como fundamentos do dever dos pais de reparar os danos causados por seus filhos. Partindo-se desses fundamentos, busca-se também nova abordagem do instituto do poder familiar, levando em consideração a mudança na concepção das famílias nos últimos anos. O desempenho da autoridade por outras figuras, como os avós e os padrastos, permitem reflexões em torno da responsabilidade sobre os menores que estão sob seus cuidados, principalmente no que pertine ao dever de reparar os danos causados. Acerca do fenômeno da responsabilidade civil, atenta-se para a grande preocupação com a vítima, merecedora de indenização pelos prejuízos sofridos. A possibilidade de atingir o patrimônio de terceiros, independente da caracterização da culpa, sinaliza a garantia dada ao ofendido. A mesma importância merece o interesse do menor, seja no que diz respeito ao seu patrimônio, seja em suas relações existenciais. Em razão disso, o estudo também aborda o ato ilícito cometido por menores, partindo de uma releitura do regime das capacidades, a fim de considerar a análise da conduta culposa do ofensor a partir do seu possível discernimento. Os princípios constitucionais como melhor interesse da criança e do adolescente, dignidade da pessoa humana, solidariedade, igualdade e paternidade responsável figuram como diretrizes à compreensão do tema. / This study investigates parents responsibility in case of a tort committed by their minor child. Under Article 932, I, of the current Brazilian Civil Code, parents are liable for the acts of their children who are under their authority and in their company. In this paper, an attempt is made to clarify the concepts paternity, authority and company in order to better understand the scope of the rule. The authority over the children and victims guarantee will be presented as main parents responsibility to repair the damage caused by their kids. The study also seeks a new approach to define family power, taking into account the recent change of family definition. The authority of other people related to the child, such as grandparents or stepparents, brings some concerns about who has responsibilities over the minors, mainly related to the obligations of damage repair. Considering civil responsibility, it is important to compensate the victim for damages suffered. Being able to take part of the patrimony of any person responsible for the kid seems like a guarantee offered to the injured. The same value has been given to the lawbreaker, considering his patrimonial and no patrimonial goods. The study also reexamines the concept of the tort when committed by a minor. Starting from the idea of capacity, it reconsiders how the tort committed by a child must be analyzed. Adherence to constitutional principles in the best interests of the child or adolescent, as well as human dignity, solidarity, equality and responsible parenthood must all be used as guidelines for understanding the whole topic.

O estudo sobre o tema proposto no presente trabalho somente se tornou possível a partir da mudança paradigmática introduzida pela Constituição Federal de 1988. Ao consagrar a dignidade da pessoa humana como fundamento do Estado Democrático de Direito, a Constituição Federal colocou a proteção do ser humano como valor central do ordenamento jurídico, estabelecendo princípios norteadores do direito de família, tais como o da solidariedade, da igualdade, do pluralismo das entidades familiares e do melhor interesse da criança e do adolescente. É nesse contexto que surge o princípio da afetividade, sobre o qual as relações familiares, em especial a de parentalidade, devem estar baseadas. Trata-se, contudo, de princípio cujo conteúdo é de difícil delimitação. Isso porque sua expressão é o afeto, usualmente entendido como sinônimo de amor, o que o desvincularia de qualquer dever jurídico. Ocorre que o princípio da afetividade não se relaciona à ideia de sentimento, mas à dedicação que os pais devem ter com a criação e a formação dos filhos menores, o que se dá por meio de comportamentos pró-afetivos. Refere-se, assim, ao cumprimento dos deveres de ordem imaterial do poder familiar, quais sejam o de criação, educação, companhia e guarda, que efetivamente colocam os filhos sob a proteção e o amparo dos pais. O descumprimento voluntário e injustificado desses deveres caracteriza o abandono afetivo. Porém, se o vínculo afetivo é rompido em decorrência da conduta do genitor guardião, que impede a convivência familiar, não há abandono afetivo, eis que descaracterizado pela prática de alienação parental. Configurado o abandono, questiona-se a possibilidade de se aplicar o instituto da responsabilidade civil à relação de parentalidade. Na hipótese dos pais que abandonam afetivamente os filhos menores é plenamente possível que todos os elementos da responsabilidade civil subjetiva conduta contrária à ordem jurídica, culpa, dano e nexo causal se façam presentes, surgindo, por conseguinte, o dever de indenizar os danos morais e materiais causados. / The study about the theme proposed in this work only became possible due to the paradigmatic change introduced by the Federal Constitution of 1988. By approving the human dignity as a Democratic Rule of Law foundation, the Federal Constitution set the human being protection as the central value of the legal system, establishing principles of family law, such as solidarity, equality, pluralism of family forms and best interest of child. It is in this context that arises the principle of affectivity, on which family relationships, especially the parental one, must be based. It is, however, a principle whose content is difficult to delimit. That is because its expression is the affection, generally understood as synonym of love, what would detach it from any legal obligation. Yet, the principle of affectivity is not related to the idea of feeling, but to the dedication that parents must have with the raising and development of their young children, which occurs by pro-affective behaviors. It refers, therefore, to the fulfillment of the immaterial duties of the parental authority, namely raising, education, company and custody, which effectively put children under protection and support of parents. The voluntary and unjustified breach of these duties characterize the affective abandonment. Nevertheless, if the affective bond is broken due to the guardian behavior that forbids family relationship, there is no affective abandonment as it results from the parental alienation. Characterized the abandonment, it is questioned the possibility of applying the liabilitys institute to the parental relationship. In the case of affective abandonment it is entirely possible that all liabilitys elements breach of duty, fault, damage and factual causation be present, resulting, as a consequence, in the duty to indemnify the moral and material damages caused.

L’intérêt de l’enfant est une notion « polymorphe » dont les tenants et aboutissants sont difficiles à cerner. A priori, nous postulions que son caractère polymorphe en permet l’instrumentalisation, les acteurs sociaux cherchant, par la représentation qu’ils s’en font, à défendre leurs intérêts. Notre mémoire prend d’ailleurs à partie l’exemple de l’avant-projet de Loi modifiant le Code civil et d’autres dispositions législatives en matière d’adoption et d’autorité parentale. Dans notre premier titre, il convenait ainsi de dresser l’historique de l’intérêt de l’enfant en tant que notion variablement évolutive, de sa réception en jurisprudence et dans les lois québécoises portant sur l’adoption, à son incorporation en droit commun, à la suite de l’abrogation du concept de puissance paternelle. Nous en avons également identifié les fondements, au travers du droit anglais, du droit international, des Chartes et du droit naturel. Les éléments de définition du concept étant multiples, nous avons enfin cherché à le conceptualiser, à en dégager les bases légales et à effectuer l’analyse doctrinale et jurisprudentielle de ses critères. Puis, afin de démontrer nos prémisses, nous avons examiné, dans notre seconde partie, les discours de quelques 23 intervenants dans le cadre des consultations menées par la Commission des institutions sur l’avant-projet de loi susdit. En somme, alors que les chercheurs universitaires ont une position ne cherchant pas à insister sur une dimension de l’intérêt de l’enfant convergeant vers leur mission, les propos des ordres professionnels, des groupes de pression et des organismes para-gouvernementaux sont, en revanche, à l’effet contraire. / The child’s interest is a “polymorphous” notion the limits of which are difficult to define. We postulate at the outset that its polymorphous nature makes it susceptible to instrumentalisation because players in the social sector portray it in ways which serve their interests. The present thesis seeks to demonstrate this using the example of the draft bill of the Act to amend the Civil Code and other legislative provisions as regards adoption and parental authority. The first part of this thesis traces the history of the ever-evolving notion of the child’s interest from the moment of its reception in case law and in Québec adoption laws, to its incorporation in the jus commune following the abrogation of the concept of paternal authority. Its foundations in English Law, in international law, in the Charters and in natural law are also identified. Finally, as there are multiple elements to the definition of this concept, an attempt is made to conceptualise it, to outline its legal foundations and to analyse its doctrinal and judicial attributes. In order to test our postulates, the second part of this thesis then examines the presentations of 23 stakeholders at the hearings of the Committee on Institutions with regards to the draft bill mentioned above. In sum, while academics take an approach which is not to insist upon those elements of the child’s interest which coincide with their agenda, the angle taken by professional corporations, pressure groups and para-governmental organisations is quite the opposite.

O objetivo do presente trabalho é demonstrar a possibilidade de atuação dos pais afins nas famílias reconstituídas, assim entendidas como aquelas formadas em segundas núpcias, em que pelo menos um dos cônjuges ou companheiro possui filhos de uma união anterior, de forma complementar e subsidiária aos pais biológicos, com vista a integrar a parentalidade, visando ao melhor interesse da criança e do adolescente à luz da Constituição Federal, do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente e do Código Civil. Com base no princípio do valor jurídico do afeto e no instituto da paternidade socioafetiva, busca-se evidenciar a importância do exercício da autoridade parental, de forma complementar, pelos pais afins nos lares reconstituídos. A convivência, os cuidados diários, a dedicação fazem nascer entre os integrantes das famílias reconstituídas vínculos de afetividade, que se revelam importantes e relevantes para o pleno desenvolvimento do menor. E apenas o pleno exercício da autoridade parental nas famílias reconstituídas permitirá uma adequada estruturação familiar, com atribuição de funções definidas aos membros integrantes desta complexa estrutura familiar, onde os papéis não são definidos e a legislação em nada orienta o comportamento, especialmente, dos pais afins. Para esta plena integração e bom funcionamento da estrutura familiar reconstituída, tendo em vista o melhor interesse do menor, objetiva-se demonstrar a necessidade de legitimação da conduta dos pais afins, no âmbito da família, hoje, vedada pelo ordenamento jurídico brasileiro. / The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the possibility of actions of step parents in reconstituted families, those formed in remarriages in which at least one spouse or partner has children from a previous union, in a complementary and subsidiary way to biological parents with the purpose to integrate parenthood, aiming for the best interests of children and adolescents in the light of the Federal Constitution, the Statute of Children and Adolescents and the Civil Code. Based on the principle of the legal value of affection and the institute of socio-affective parenthood, it is sought to highlight the importance of the exercise of parental authority, as complementary, by the step parents in the rebuilt homes. Coexistence, the daily care and dedication create among the members of reconstituted families ties of affection which are important and relevant to the full development of the child. Only the full exercise of parental authority in reconstituted families will allow a proper family structuring, with attribution of tasks to members of this complex family structure, in which nowadays roles are not defined and the legislation does nothing to guide behavior, especially of step parentes. For this full integration and smooth functioning of the reconstituted family structure, in view of the best interests of the child, the objective is to demonstrate the need to legitimize the conduct of the step parentes in the family, today prohibited under Brazilian law.

L’intérêt de l’enfant est une notion « polymorphe » dont les tenants et aboutissants sont difficiles à cerner. A priori, nous postulions que son caractère polymorphe en permet l’instrumentalisation, les acteurs sociaux cherchant, par la représentation qu’ils s’en font, à défendre leurs intérêts. Notre mémoire prend d’ailleurs à partie l’exemple de l’avant-projet de Loi modifiant le Code civil et d’autres dispositions législatives en matière d’adoption et d’autorité parentale. Dans notre premier titre, il convenait ainsi de dresser l’historique de l’intérêt de l’enfant en tant que notion variablement évolutive, de sa réception en jurisprudence et dans les lois québécoises portant sur l’adoption, à son incorporation en droit commun, à la suite de l’abrogation du concept de puissance paternelle. Nous en avons également identifié les fondements, au travers du droit anglais, du droit international, des Chartes et du droit naturel. Les éléments de définition du concept étant multiples, nous avons enfin cherché à le conceptualiser, à en dégager les bases légales et à effectuer l’analyse doctrinale et jurisprudentielle de ses critères. Puis, afin de démontrer nos prémisses, nous avons examiné, dans notre seconde partie, les discours de quelques 23 intervenants dans le cadre des consultations menées par la Commission des institutions sur l’avant-projet de loi susdit. En somme, alors que les chercheurs universitaires ont une position ne cherchant pas à insister sur une dimension de l’intérêt de l’enfant convergeant vers leur mission, les propos des ordres professionnels, des groupes de pression et des organismes para-gouvernementaux sont, en revanche, à l’effet contraire. / The child’s interest is a “polymorphous” notion the limits of which are difficult to define. We postulate at the outset that its polymorphous nature makes it susceptible to instrumentalisation because players in the social sector portray it in ways which serve their interests. The present thesis seeks to demonstrate this using the example of the draft bill of the Act to amend the Civil Code and other legislative provisions as regards adoption and parental authority. The first part of this thesis traces the history of the ever-evolving notion of the child’s interest from the moment of its reception in case law and in Québec adoption laws, to its incorporation in the jus commune following the abrogation of the concept of paternal authority. Its foundations in English Law, in international law, in the Charters and in natural law are also identified. Finally, as there are multiple elements to the definition of this concept, an attempt is made to conceptualise it, to outline its legal foundations and to analyse its doctrinal and judicial attributes. In order to test our postulates, the second part of this thesis then examines the presentations of 23 stakeholders at the hearings of the Committee on Institutions with regards to the draft bill mentioned above. In sum, while academics take an approach which is not to insist upon those elements of the child’s interest which coincide with their agenda, the angle taken by professional corporations, pressure groups and para-governmental organisations is quite the opposite.