Estilos de aprendizagem sob a ótica da Psicologia Evolucionista

Among a variety of learning conceptions, David Kolb´s Experiential Learning Theory proposes four different learning styles: diverging, characterized by orientation towards people and multi-perspective vision; assimilating, concerned with ideas and abstract concepts as well as theory formulation; converging, expert in dealing with technical tasks and problem solving; and accommodating, risk taker and good at getting things done. Interesting correlations have been pointed out between Kolb s learning styles, professional careers and genders. With respect to behaviors, specific cognitive skills and interests, sex differences are widely known, and explained by Evolutionary Psychology as the result of distinct selective pressures acting on each gender. The aim of this research was to assess adolescents learning styles and their relation with interests on school and career choices, analyzing possible gender differences. We distributed questionnaires to 221 senior high school students to research their preferences for school disciplines, professional activities and career choices. The Learning Style Inventory specified the learning style of each individual. Our results showed a high frequency of reflective styles, with predominance of females as diverging and males as assimilating. Concerning school and professional interests, there were correlations between styles oriented towards the abstract and technical interests. Moreover, females preferred disciplines related to languages and interpersonal activities while males preferred disciplines related to science and technical activities. There were more males in exact science and engineering careers, and more females in social science and applied social science. Correlations found between learning styles, school and professional interests corroborate Kolb´s propositions, and the findings about gender differences are supported by Evolutionary Psychology theories

El pensamiento de Carlos Nelson Coutinho: interpretar el Brasil

El presente artículo muestra una interpretación de Brasil a partir de la fecunda apropiación del pensamiento de Gramsci por el intelectual brasileño de izquierda Carlos Nelson Coutinho. Se destaca la osadía intelectual que caracteriza su producción a lo largo de cinco décadas en la búsqueda permanente de la ampliación conceptual como superación dialéctica, siendo fiel a la relación fundante entre historia y teoría política. A partir de una revisión del pensamiento de Coutinho, las autoras analizan el proceso de modernización de Brasil en el tránsito al capitalismo por la vía de la revolución pasiva. Se rescatan aportes de Coutinho sobre las configuraciones estatales en la historia brasileña, enfatizando el proceso de occidentalización con la ampliación del Estado a través de la actuación política de la sociedad civil que emerge de las entrañas de la dictadura militar. Se trata de una producción en proceso que delinea vías analíticas para trabajar el marxismo en movimiento propugnado por Coutinho