The aim of this introductory paper is to present an integrated message, elaborated as critical features of a proposal which considers the scientific research in psychological development as embedded in social interaction and in the historical-cultural context. Three aspects are discussed: 1) the conceptualization of the phenomenon of psychological development; 2) the meaning of social interaction and of historical-cultural context for this development; and 3) the urgent need for a conceptual linkage regarding theoretical and methodological aspects of scientific investigation. The diversity of readings of this proposal is reflected in the different papers that compose this special issue, including those that are comments on papers. Nevertheless, all the contributors present texts that reflect their answers regarding those three fundamental aspects, although they differ in the emphasis given to each one.
Developmental process; social interaction; historical-cultural context; theory and methodology