Paper short abstract:

The articulation between teaching, research and extension under an interdisciplinary umbrella between Anthropology and Psychomotricity, while valuing the knowledge of communities and professional groups contributes to legitimize forms of intervention in an increasingly complex and changing world

Paper long abstract:

In the first Bachelor's Degree in Psychomotricity created in Argentina in 2000 at the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero, Anthropology was from the beginning a compulsory subject, aimed at enriching the view of future professionals with regard to the understanding of cultural diversity and social inequalities. Through teaching and the development of interdisciplinary research projects on the training of psychomotricians in community projects, and the development of university extension projects, I have identified the contribution to the better understanding of relations and interventions in psychomotricity. Specifically, among a university extension project carried out by anthropologists and psychometricians -professors and students-, we have approached to situations of extreme vulnerability of babies, accompanying foster care families who take charge of their care and upbringing. The research on the extension project has made it possible to dynamize the teaching of Anthropology, introducing the approach to care relationships in contexts of violence and extreme poverty, focusing on the power of cultural relations to strengthen care ties while addresing the role of professionals in those contexts. The articulation between teaching, research and extension under an interdisciplinary umbrella enriches the practical and theoretical training of psychometricians. Psychomotricity developed in contexts of poverty, with the contribution of anthropology, resignifies its professional praxis, previously focused on individual and clinical care of families from wealthier backgrounds. Anthropology, with its ability to value the knowledge of each community and group - including professional groups - contributes to legitimize forms of professional intervention in an increasingly complex and changing world.