Psychology and generalist training: from Minimum Curriculum to Curricula Guidelines
generalism, competencies, psychologist training, curriculum, curricula emphasis.
Since its regulation as a profession in Brazil, training in Psychology has been built over the idea of a generalist course. Currently, generalist training is a consensus in discussions about the curriculum, but it involves questions that are different from the previous ones on the same topic, fact that expresses a result of advancements in critical debates about Psychology. Those discussions, however, jostle for space through reform impositions that fit in a neoliberal agenda for higher education, what brings up other questions in education and in generalism ideas. The objective of the present study is to investigate concepts and current strategies of generalist training in Natal-RN courses. Therefore, we analyzed the Pedagogical Projects of the courses and conducted interviews with professors and coordinators. We found that the courses were operationalizing generalism as follows: they seek a curriculum that organizes classes equitably according to the Curricula Guidelines and Psychology areas, but there is a prominence of the theoretical and methodological lining and Clinical area. The idea of plurality is connected to the study of epistemological bases, but the contents related to those bases are way less present in the curriculum. From a concept linked to the diversity for professional preparation, they look for strategies that may go beyond a superficial training, but there are limits that prevent it, as the fact that research is restricted to public universities and the fact that competencies represents few changes. We conclude at present that the generalist training means an acceleration of theoretical studies in the name of a wealth of information about the various theories (classical and emergent), quick training and familiarization with places and working procedures. It is necessary to go further in discussions about education in order to build a generalist training that is consistent and science-based.