Evolutionary theory in educational psychology: a historiographical analysis

Ana Laura Godinho Lima

doi:10.1590/s0104-59702020000400007

Abstract

We analyze the discourse on human development in educational psychology manuals written for teacher training. "Recapitulation theory" is seen in this discourse. This theory, developed by Ersnt Haeckel in the field of embryology in the late nineteenth century, asserts that individuals pass through different development stages that correspond to the adult form of their ancestors in the evolutionary sequence. It was appropriated by psychology and served as an explanatory model for various different aspects of development, for everything from individual and group differences in the shape and size of the brain to the evolution of language and morals. The analysis refers to the writings of Michel Foucault on discourse analysis and to those of Nikolas Rose on the history of psychology.

Highlights

We analyze the discourse on human development in educational psychology manuals written for teacher training
“Recapitulation theory” is seen in this discourse. This theory, developed by Ersnt Haeckel in the field of embryology in the late nineteenth century, asserts that individuals pass through different development stages that correspond to the adult form of their ancestors in the evolutionary sequence
Ao se apropriar da teoria evolucionista, a psicologia do desenvolvimento adquiriu legitimidade científica, ao mesmo tempo que serviu à disseminação da tese do determinismo biológico, sobretudo a partir da divulgação dos trabalhos de Spencer, segundo o qual os diferentes grupos humanos apresentavam capacidades desiguais, de acordo com a herança recebida de seus antepassados

Summary

Introduction

We analyze the discourse on human development in educational psychology manuals written for teacher training. A análise toma como fontes obras redigidas por autores que lecionaram psicologia na Escola Normal Caetano de Campos e, posteriormente, na Universidade de São Paulo, bem como na Escola Normal e, mais tarde, no Instituto de Educação do Rio de Janeiro, entre 1914 e 1972.

Results

Conclusion