In the past years, the public university has showed more and more market like characteristics. In Brasil greater highlight has been given, in scientific works, to the "academic productivity" which has, as its central theme, the emphasis in the amount of academic publishing. This article aims to discuss the characteristics of this particular paradigm , assuming that it leads to a situation of subjective precariousness to professors. To do so, the result of a qualitative research, developed through reflexive interviews with professors of a public university, is presented. The results point that the experienced subjective precariousness leads to mental wear down which thence, might present as a consequence, psychic suffering and illness. Although aware of the process, some professors adopt individual daily "survival" techniques, while collective strategies aiming transformation are poorly emphasized.
social psychology; academic productivity; occupational health; academic work; university