This work is intended as an introduction to the study of Soviet psy chology. In it we have tried to present the main lines of Soviet psycho logical theory, in particular, the philosophical principles on which that theory is founded. There are surprisingly few books in English on Soviet psychology, or, indeed, in any Western European language. The works that exist usually take the form of symposia or are collections of articles translated from Soviet periodicals. The most important of these are Psychology in the Soviet Union (ed. by Brian Simon), Recent Soviet Psychology (ed. by Neil O'Connor) and Soviet Psychology, A Symposium (ed. by Ralf Winn). Raymond Bauer has also edited an interesting symposium entitled Some Views on Soviet Psychology. Only two systematic studies of Soviet psychology have been published to date: Joseph Wortis' Soviet Psychiatry and Raymond Bauer's The New Man in Soviet Psychology. Both are valuable introductions to Soviet psychology; Bauer's book, in particular, gives a good account of the debates on psychological theory in the Soviet Union in the nineteen twenties and -thirties. Both, however, are somewhat out of date. There are also a number of interesting articles written by Ivan D. London and Gregory Razran, which give general surveys of particular periods or aspects of Soviet psychology. These have been listed in the bibliography.
Inhalt
I. The Sources of Soviet Psychological Theory.- A. Introduction.- Historical Background.- B. Russian Physiological Psychology.- 1. Ivan Mixajlovi? Se?enov (1829-1905).- 2. Vladimir Mixajlovi? Bexterev (1857-1927).- 3. Ivan Petrovi? Pavlov (1849-1936).- 4. Conclusion on Russian Physiological Psychology.- C. Marxist-Leninist Philosophy.- 1. Materialism.- a. Marx.- b. Engels.- c. Lenin.- 2. Dialectics.- 3. The Marxist-Leninist Theory of Knowledge.- 4. Conclusion on Marxist-Leninist Philosophy.- D. Pavlovism and Marxist-Leninist Philosophy.- II. The Development of Psychological Theory in the Soviet Union.- A. Introduction.- B. The Mechanist Period: 1917-30.- 1. The Elimination of 'Idealism': 1917-24.- 2. The Predominance of Mechanism: 1924-30.- 3. The Mechanist Controversy.- C. The Dialectical Period: 1930-50.- 1. The Period of Transition: 1930-36.- 2. The Triumph of Dialectics: 1936-50.- D. The Pavlovian Period: since 1950.- E. Concluding Remarks.- III. The Life and Work of S. L. RubinStejn.- A. Life.- 1. Schooling and Philosophical Formation.- 2. Academic and Professional Career.- B. Literary Activity.- 1. Up to the Pavlov Conference.- 2. After the Pavlov Conference.- C. Summary.- IV. The Reconstruction of Psychology.- A. Psychology and Marxist-Leninist Philosophy.- 1. The Crisis in Psychology.- 2. The Basis for Reconstruction.- 3. A New Concept of the Psychic.- 4. The Unity of Consciousness and Behaviour.- a. Subject to Object.- b. Object to Subject.- (i) Consciousness Reflects Objective Reality.- (ii) The Evolution of Consciousness.- 5. Recapitulation.- B. The Pavlovization of Psychology - A New Synthesis.- 1. The Aspects of the Psychic.- 2. Ideal Reflection and Materialistic Monism.- a. Cognition as Relation of Subject and Object.- b. The Psychic Obeys All the Laws of Matter.- c. Reflection as a General Property of Matter.- 3. Conclusion: the Nature of the Psychic.- V. The Psychic and the External World.- A. Introduction.- B. Reflection and Ideal Image.- Knowledge and Practice.- C. The Object of Knowledge.- D. The Subject of Knowledge.- 1. The Basic Mode of Existence of the Psychic.- 2. The Levels of Cognitive Activity.- a. The Level of Sense Knowledge.- b. The Level of Thought.- c. Thought and Speech.- 3. The Basic Cognitive Operations.- a. Analysis.- b. Synthesis.- c. Abstraction.- d. Generalization.- 4. The Problem of Personality.- E. The Psychic as Opposed to the External World.- 1. The Psychic as Ideal.- 2. The Psychic as Subjective.- F. Conclusion and Critique: Psychic Phenomena as Ideal Reflection.- VI. Psychic Activity and the Brain.- A. Introduction.- B. The Psychic as a Function of the Brain.- C. The Principle of Psycho-Physical Unity.- D. The Psychic as Higher Nervous Activity.- 1. Development of RubinStejn's Thought.- 2. The Reflex Conception of the Psychic.- a. Psychic Activity is Reflex Cerebral Activity.- b. Psychic Activity is Higher Nervous Activity.- 3. The Theory of Dynamic Localization.- E. Conclusion and Critique: The Theory of Constitutive Relationism.- Conclusion.- Books and Articles by S. L. RubinStejn.- Select Bibliography.- Name Index.