Abstract

LEANDRO EICHLER, Marcelo. The adaptationist program in psychology and the Theory of Evolution of the Species. Ciênc. cogn. [online]. 2006, vol.7, n.1, pp.49-67. ISSN 1806-5821.

Over the last years the evolutionary psychology has been presented as an approach to explain psychological phenomena. From this approach, biological adaptation and natural selection are seen as causative events of modern psychological manifestations. Such explicative reductionism is criticized by a large number of renowned biologists, although supported by other eminent ones. At the core of the debate is the discussion about the meanings given to the word "adaptation". Piaget, regardless his psychological importance, is a biologist who is neglected in this debate. His view of adaptation from the understanding of dynamic and self-regulator systems is an emergent and increasingly accepted point of view. Biological inspiration biases in the development psychology have much to learn from the biologist Piaget, especially from his caution regarding reductionist explanations in general. © Ciências & Cognição 2006; Vol. 07: 49-67.

Keywords : evolutionary psychology; biological adaptation; Jean Piaget.

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