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Commentary: How Far Is Brazil from Africa?

Catholic University of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, elainepr{at}clas.com.br

The article by Keller, Demuth and Yovsi et al. holds a special interest for Brazilian psychology because of the influence of African culture on Brazilian ways of living and identity. It contributes to knowledge, assuming a clear position alongside the qualitative differences and the dialogical co-existence of the dimensions of autonomy and relatedness implicit in intra-individual and inter-individual variability. At the same time, the authors look for similarities, showing that tradition and novelty co-exist and that their manifestation depends on contextual dynamics. The commentary offers an overview of Brazilian historical ethnical formation to emphasize some political aspects of these contextual dynamics. I also comment on some similarities and differences based on a study with Brazilian afro-descendents. Finally, this commentary presents some questions about physical punishment, education as a value, complexity and linearity, translation and betrayal, the concepts of independence and autonomy.

Key Words: afro-centric viewpoints • autonomy • independence • parenting

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