Abstract

CORREDOR ARISTIZABAL, JAVIER ALEJANDRO  and  JIMENEZ-LEAL, WILLIAM. Modularity and the Reality of Psychological Processes. Rev. colomb. psicol. [online]. 2011, vol.20, n.2, pp.309-319. ISSN 0121-5469.

The objective of this paper is to set the stage for a discussion of the status of the idea of psychological process within psychological explanations and descriptions, indicating some of its consequences for the teaching of psychology. It is argued that contemporary psychology espouses some form of modularity, which, in turn, reveals commitments to a particular variety of cognitive architecture. The assumption of modularity has been a fruitful approach in some areas (e. g. the study of perception), but it has also led to a piecemeal understanding of mind and behavior that is simply insufficient to provide foundations for professional practice in several areas of psychology (e. g. education). Whereas assuming weak modularity as a working hypothesis might be a useful and necessary research strategy, integrating psychological research findings into a coherent framework is necessary. This idea has important consequences for the teaching of psychology.

Keywords : psychological process; modularity; cognitive architecture; integrative process.

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