Julio Cesar Ossa – författare

This book presents a cultural history of psychology that analyzes the diverse contexts in which psychological knowledge and practices have developed in Latin America. The book aims to contribute to the growing effort to develop a theoretical knowledge that complements the biographical perspective centered on the great figures, with a polycentric history that emphasizes the different cultural, social, economic and political phenomena that accompanied the emergence of psychology.

The different chapters of this volume show the production of historians of psychology in Latin America who are part of the Ibero-American Network of Researchers in History of Psychology (RIPeHP, in the Portuguese acronym for "Rede Iberoamericana de Pesquisadores em História da Psicologia"). They present a significant sample of the research carried out in a field that has experienced a strong development in the region in the last decades. The volume is divided into two parts. The first presents comparative chapters that address cross-cutting issues in the different countries of the region. The second part analyzes particular aspects of the development of psychology in seven countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. Throughout these chapters the reader will find how psychology made its way through dictatorial governments, phenomena of violence and internal armed conflict, among others. Dimensions that include rigorous analysis ranging from ancestral practices to current geopolitical knowledge of the Latin American region.

​History of Psychology in Latin America - A Cultural Approach is an invaluable resource for historians of psychology, anywhere in the world, interested in a polycentric and critical approach. Since its content is part of the "cultural turn in psychology" it is also of interest to readers interested in the social and human sciences in general. Finally, the thoroughly international perspective provided through its chapters make the book a key resource for both undergraduate and graduate teaching and education on the past and current state of psychology.

One of the arguments that explain the relevance of this book is the overwhelming lack of knowledge that the current literature throws on the Inhelderian microgenetic method. The place of this method is definitely ungrateful and has remained incomprehensibly hidden. All indications are that it seems to have lagged behind many of the brightest heads in developmental psychology, those who made up the Geneva school.

The book aims to illustrate how Inhelderian microgenesis emerges in the landscape of cognitive development as a new object of study. More than ruptures with respect to the problems of the normative subject, the Inhelderian project entails both conceptual and methodological displacements. In this new map, the psychological subject takes a predominant place, and does so in terms of the cognitive functioning of the subject in relation to situations of resolution. This functioning is studied on the basis of the microgenetic method, which makes it possible to identify the role of mental schemas, their combinations and recompositions in the face of specific and problematic situations.

The totally original version of the microgenetic method that is delivered from the Inhelderian legacy in this book, not only recovers its basic sense but also advances in the direction of some indications that Inhelder herself had pointed out. This renewed object of study recovers a subject, with a status in terms of its own models, its theories and its dynamics.

Starting from a demanding and knowledgeable reading of Inhelder''s work. This knowledge becomes the best criterion to point out an updated path of the work with concepts and tools resulting from recent research but articulated with a microgenetic vision coming from the most orthodox tradition. The bet consists of advancing from the legacy of Inhelder and her team and projecting it as a methodological alternative for current research in developmental studies.

This book represents an intellectual journey through the history, culture, and training of psychologists in Latin America to transcend borders. It analyzes the inception of academic programs in each country in the region, exploring the socio-political and economic context, and delves into the conceptual, methodological, and epistemological aspects of training. Similarly, it discusses how psychology prepares professionals for their roles in society and provides updated data on the discipline''s growth in the region. Furthermore, it promotes international and intercultural dialogue, enriching the global understanding of psychology. The book''s emphasis on adopting a historical and cultural approach is essentially an effort to introduce a critical component to the analysis of psychologist professional training. This component adds value for the reader and aids in understanding how Latin American psychology has been shaped by historical events, social movements, government policies,and the diverse cultural traditions of the region. Readers will gain a profound understanding of why psychology has developed in a particular way in each Latin American country, shedding light on significant variations in psychological practice and theory in this part of the world. Essentially, this work constitutes an invaluable resource for academics, professionals, and anyone interested in understanding the intersection between psychology and the rich historical and cultural diversity of Latin America.