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[Evolutionary theory in educational psychology: a historiographical analysis]
1Professora, Faculdade de Educação/Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo - SP - Brasil alglima@usp.br.
Historia, Ciencias, Saude--Manguinhos
|October 28, 2020
Summary
Educational psychology manuals for teachers feature recapitulation theory, an outdated concept suggesting individual development mirrors ancestral evolution. This analysis explores its historical influence on developmental psychology and teacher training discourse.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- History of Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- This study examines the discourse surrounding human development within educational psychology textbooks used for teacher training.
- It identifies the presence and influence of "Recapitulation theory" in these texts.
Observation:
- Recapitulation theory, originating in 19th-century embryology with Ernst Haeckel, posits that individual development stages mirror ancestral evolutionary forms.
- This theory was adopted by psychology to explain diverse developmental aspects, including brain morphology, language, and moral evolution.
Findings:
- The discourse in teacher training manuals reveals the persistent, albeit often unacknowledged, presence of recapitulation theory.
- This historical theory has shaped psychological explanations of human development, impacting educational thought.
Implications:
- Understanding the historical roots of psychological concepts in education is crucial for critical pedagogy.
- This analysis highlights the need to critically evaluate the theoretical underpinnings of developmental psychology in teacher education programs.
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