Abstract

MORAES, MÁRCIA; CARDOSO-MANSO, CAROLINA  and  LIMA-MONTEIRO, ÁNA CLAUDIA. Affect and being affected: body and cognition among people with visual disabilities. Univ. Psychol. [online]. 2009, vol.8, n.3, pp.785-792. ISSN 1657-9267.

This paper presents the results of the intervention research performed with a group of visually disabled youths aimed at promoting different articulations between body and cognition. Based on the actor-network theory, we considered that to have a body means to learn how one is affected by heterogeneous and differing actors, human or non human. The field research was performed using body language aiming at promoting connections/ articulations between body and materials as heterogeneous as an elastic, a nail file, a song, a classmate. Interventions were performed in group and were negotiated and agreed by the subjects of the research, so that there be a reciprocal constructive relationship between researcher and researched. The body experiences performed produced new ways of knowing amongst the visually impaired youths. Therefore, we consider that cognition be the effect of such body experiences, hybrid collective cognition, produced by the network. Thus, we elaborate about the role of psychology in an institution for the visually disabled.

Keywords : Body; Cogniton; Visual Disability; Blind Education; Cognition and Culture.

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