Culture &Psychology, Ahead of Print.
In this article we discuss the Macro Cultural Psychology understanding of the constitution of a Yepa Mahsã person, an indigenous people of the upper Negro river, in northwest Amazonas, Brazil. This perspective is used because it considers the dialectic and dynamism between the psychological processes and macro cultural aspects (social institutions, cultural artifacts and concepts). A reflective and dialogical exercise was undertaken by psychologists and Yepa Mahsã anthropologists using three cultural elements: Kihti Ukuse (mythical narratives), Bahsese (blessings) and Bahsamori (festivities and rituals according to constellation calendar). The dialogues revealed that the psychosocial perspective of psychology needs to be expanded because a person is not merely characterised as individual, but rather as an inseparable element of the collective of the clan and the Yepa Mahsã cosmo-politics; social relations are established with other Yepa Mahsã, with the Wai Mahsã (visible and invisible beings who inhabit all surrounding nature) and with the creator; the environment is not inert, but alive and relational; the mythical narratives are not mere stories and social constructions, for they are always present to the Yepa Mahsã and organise everyday life on all levels.