FURTHERING THE INTERNALIZATION DEBATE - GALPERINS CONTRIBUTION

In this article we examine the contribution to the analysis of the pro blem of internalization made by the Russian psychologist Gal'perin. Th e concept of internalization has been criticized recently for restrict ing researchers to an old paradigm of Cartesian dualism, with the sugg estion made that clearer concepts such as mastery or appropriation be substituted. In our view, the concept of internalization has the advan tage of pointing to a specifically human type of appropriation. We pro pose an alternative solution. Rather than replacing one term with anot her, the very notions of internal and external in the realm of mental activity should be reconceptualized. In the framework of Gal'perin's i deas, the processes underlying the internalization concept can be cons trued without creating dualistic confusion. The result is a better und erstanding of the specificity of human mental development.