First, this article attempts to approach the problem of distancing from the psychocultural perspective, relating it with the basic mechanism of mediation that was proposed by Vygotsky. Secondly, it is a reflection on the combined process of approaching and distancing in human biological and mental processes, and the limitations of contemplating the development as a process that is assumed to proceed only in the direction of ever greater cognitive distancing. Finally, it is proposed that instead of conceiving contact and distance as divergent developmental paths, models should articulate both processes of approaching and distancing, as well as of social mediation and instrumental mediation. I suggest the ecological and situated nature of psychological operators of distancing as a process in an extra-cortical mise-en-scène. A qué le llaman distancia eso me habrán de explicar Sólo están lejos las cosas que no sabemos mirar Atahualpa Yupanki What do they mean by distance? They'll have to explain it to me The only things that are far away Are those we don't know how to see Humanity was recently a witness, through television, of a circular exercise of approaching and distancing. We watched-fascinated, with our gaze repeatedly turned to, and tortured by-the impact of two aeroplanes crashing into the World Trade Center. This-and the exotic vision of the attire of Islamic cultures-was rushed to us by television, Culture & Psychology