To analyze the topic of the article in detail, it is necessary to find out the meaning of the word “agglutination”. This term in psychology defines a combination of properties, qualities or parts of objects that are at first glance incompatible in reality.

The human imagination is capable of actively creating new images. The incentive for this is both general life vicissitudes and serious personal motives. The process, or rather the method by which they are created, is precisely the same agglutination that will be discussed below.

Agglutination: what is it (definition)

Before doing anything, a person creates a mental image of what he will succeed and draws up a plan of action to achieve the goal. We owe all this to our imagination. It obeys a certain pattern and exists thanks to other features of the human brain - the ability to. With their help, the original idea of ​​​​something is decomposed into its component parts (analysis), and then the result is combined in a new combination (synthesis).

Agglutination in psychology is also one of the analytical-synthetic processes. At the same time, a person collects several figures, types, characters into one image, even if they are incompatible at first glance. For example, the well-known centaurs - half horses, half people, or a fairy-tale hut on chicken legs - all agglutinations of images, which made it possible to make them unusual, bright and memorable.

Using agglutination in creativity

In art, many imaginative techniques - agglutination, emphasis - are often used. For example, Leo Tolstoy admitted that the image of Natasha Rostova from the novel “War and Peace” was based on two real women - his wife Sophia and her sister, Tatyana Bers. The combination of two types of women - one impetuous, lively and enthusiastic, and the second feminine and gentle - helped to give birth to an integral and absolutely vital character.

Sharpening, or emphasizing attention, no less helps to achieve a memorable result. Cartoonists especially love this technique. The depiction of a chatterbox as a person with an excessively long tongue, or a beer drinker with a huge belly, allows us to emphasize the most significant in the appearance and habits of the people depicted in the picture.

In literary works, the emphasis is placed at the moment of describing the hero. Focusing the reader's attention on any of his qualities allows him to convey the essence of the character's nature without further ado and even determine the author's attitude towards him.

Image agglutination does not occur by chance

To better understand what agglutination is, it should be remembered that this process in the human imagination is most often not a random “assembling a puzzle.” The combination of different details into a single image is helped by an existing idea, plan, as well as other motives that sometimes exist on a subconscious level.

And the starting point for transformation is experience. And the more diverse and wider it is, the brighter and richer the imagination. At the same time, one should not confuse mechanical shoveling, regrouping of ready-made and already known elements with the creation of an integral and viable image. That is, the pictures that we use in our imagination, fitting into the framework of the new image, also change their appearance somewhat, summing up and generalizing into a single whole.

Techniques of transformative activity of imagination

Agglutination, accentuation, typification are techniques with the help of which the transformative activity of the imagination is carried out.

Earlier we already mentioned emphasizing features, which is achieved by changing the proportions of the image. This method is applicable not only for caricatures, but also for creating fantastic characters. Vivid examples of such hyperbole are the heroes of legends and fairy tales - for example, Svyatogor, who could easily put the famous hero Ilya Muromets in his pocket, and the earth would shake from his whistle.

This presentation of the size and physical power of the hero helps the author to prove the significance and majesty of this image and demonstrate inner strength which he possesses.

By the way, greatly understating a character (for example, Thumb Thumb) can serve the same purpose, demonstrating the character's inner strengths through contrast.

An equally important role in the presentation of characteristics is played by the technique of typification - combining in one fictional character the typical features of a number of real-life heroes, thus making him a representative of a given group of people. This is also a way of synthesis in the process of imagination, and striking examples of this are the images of Onegin, Pechorin, Oblomov, Othello and other heroes, representing a generalized portrait of the author’s contemporaries.

Creative imagination

Let us repeat that agglutination in psychology is one of the techniques of creative imagination that helps to create a new original image or idea. It should be noted that the term “new” in this case has a dual meaning. After all new image may be so both objectively and subjectively.

• In the first case, such an idea does not yet exist either in materialized or virtual form. That is, this is such an original image that it does not repeat existing ones.
• And in the second case, the novelty is obvious only to a specific person. That is, a subjectively new image is a discovery only for its author, but at the same time it repeats existing ones.

Once again about what agglutination is

The work of the human imagination, as is clear from the above, uses a rather limited number of techniques - agglutination, accentuation and typification. But even with such a small arsenal, it is capable of a lot.

Thus, agglutination in psychology is not only a method of creating an artistic image on a canvas or in a literary work, but also the possibility of implementing completely new ideas in science and technology. Creative imagination allows the inventor to first mentally assemble disparate details into a single whole, and then apply this in practice, making discoveries and advancing progress.

Manifestations of agglutination in psychiatry

Unfortunately, agglutination in psychology is also a term that denotes one of the symptoms of exacerbations of schizophrenia.

It refers to a condition in which the patient loses the ability to distinguish between certain concepts, since they are glued together in his brain. By the way, such people appear in the vocabulary thanks to this a large number of neologisms (a person will come up with completely new words or give old ones new meanings).

The process of agglutination leads to the fact that a patient with schizophrenia has a disrupted perception of his own “I” and surrounding reality. For example, in some cases, patients are unable to distinguish themselves from other people or even objects. And what is happening in the outside world in their imagination is closely intertwined with some bodily functions (for example, rain is their tears, etc.)

Agglutination is in psychology essential tool assessment of the state of the individual and his vision surrounding reality. The phenomenon of agglutination is very common in human nature and in the world in general. Sometimes observed in patients or found in people suffering from speech disorders. The term agglutination describes the phenomenon that is fusion into a single whole. different elements(words, thoughts, images).

Agglutination in psychology is an imagination that is created by combining objects that exist in reality. This special kind a connection, or rather a merger, in which characteristics and traits that are absolutely unconnected in objective reality are combined. of a person is essentially a dialogue that a person conducts with various parts of his “I”. Stimulants are various vital necessities. Stimulation of the imagination itself is accomplished through human mental actions, which represent the formation of images.

Agglutination in psychology - examples are presented in fairy-tale images: centaurs (combining human features with the characteristics of a horse), sphinxes (features of a human face merge with the characteristics of a lion), mermaids (attaching a fish tail to the body of a beautiful woman), as well as other various mythological images. All these images appeared thanks to the rich human imagination. So, this very image of a centaur, most likely, was formed in conditions with poor visibility of a person jumping on a horse, so he seemed like some kind of fantastic animal. Also, the image of a man with wings appeared, apparently consciously, because it symbolizes the very idea of ​​a person moving through the air, formed in such a sensual image.

The phenomenon of agglutination is a process that is related to psychology and is found in medicine and linguistics.

The process of agglutination in linguistics means fusion different words in one, with reduction morphological structure, maintaining the original meaning. That is, agglutination in linguistics is a process in which different morphological elements of a language are combined into a whole, creating words.

Agglutination in psychology

Some scientists believe that agglutination is a single technique that shapes the activity of the human imagination. According to this theory, agglutination itself comes down to new rearrangements of various components. To use this technique, a person must have certain experience. Only having the appropriate experience will help you use agglutination as a method of creating images.

Agglutination in psychology is an imagination that was created by combining various techniques of intellectual operations and is a fairly common way to change reality. It is used as a way creative activity, in science, technical invention. Agglutination is not a random process, but a targeted selection of previously thought-out features and characteristics. The creator makes this selection quite consciously, guided by the idea, design, and composition of the work. Often the tendency that determines the combination of components of the human imagination works unconsciously, but there is always a motive that directly determines a person’s imagination.

The vaster and richer the experience of a person’s individual life, the richer his imagination will also be. However, the recognition of the fact that human imagination depends on human experience should not be taken as a way that determines the movement and combination of different elements. This approach is considered erroneous among many psychologists. In this approach, agglutination is perceived as a purely mechanical phenomenon, which leads to the rearrangement of unchanged existing characteristics.

The whole process is based on human experience. The more varied and broad the experience, the richer the imagination will be. It is also worth understanding the difference between the mechanical elaboration of previously known elements and the creation of a solid, viable and new image. That is, those images that a person uses in his own imagination, fitting within the boundaries of the new appearance, somewhat change their appearance, generalizing into a whole unified formation.

The processes at the basis of agglutination are quite diverse; they can also be divided into groups. The first group consists of processes that are associated with a lack of criticality, or a lack of analytical perception. The second group consists of voluntary processes associated with mental generalizations, controlled consciously.

Agglutination is a method of creative imagination through which new images can be created. Here the concept of “new” has a double meaning. A new image, a new idea can be objective or subjective. In objective representation, this idea does not yet exist at all, in any of the worlds. This is a very original image. Also, novelty can only be obvious to a specific person if the image is subjective. It turns out that a subjectively new image can only be fully revealed to its author.

Agglutination is not just a method for the formation of artistic images in literary works, it is also an opportunity to realize completely new ideas in technology and science. The creative imagination of the inventor allows him to mentally combine completely different details into one whole and later apply this practically, moving forward, making discoveries for this.

Imagination is the ability of consciousness to create images, ideas, ideas and manipulate them; plays a key role in the following mental processes: modeling, planning, play, human. A type of creative imagination is Fantasy. Imagination is one of the forms of mental reflection of the world. The most traditional point is the definition of imagination as a process (A.V. Petrovsky and M.G. Yaroshevsky, V.G. Kazakov and L.L. Kondratyeva, etc.). According to M.V. Gamezo and I.A. Domashenko: “Imagination is a mental process consisting of the creation of new images (ideas) by processing the material of perceptions and ideas obtained in previous experience.” Domestic authors also consider this phenomenon as an ability (V. T. Kudryavtsev, L. S. Vygotsky) and as a specific activity (L. D. Stolyarenko, B. M. Teplov). Taking into account a complex functional structure, L. S. Vygotsky considered the application of the concept of a psychological system adequate.

According to E.V. Ilyenkov, the traditional understanding of imagination reflects only its derivative function. Home - allows you to see what is, what lies before your eyes, that is, the main function of the imagination is transformation optical phenomenon on the surface of the retina into the image of an external thing.

Classification of imagination processes

According to the results:

• Reproductive imagination. (recreation of reality as it is)
• Productive (creative) imagination
  • with the relative novelty of the images;
  • with absolute novelty of images.

By degree of focus:

• active (voluntary) - includes reconstructive and creative imagination.
• passive (involuntary) - includes unintentional and unpredictable imagination.

By type of images:

• specific
• abstract

By methods of imagination:

• agglutination - the connection of objects that are not connected in reality;
• hyperbolization - increasing or decreasing an object and its parts;
• schematization - highlighting differences and identifying similarities;
• typification - highlighting the essential, repeating in homogeneous phenomena.

According to the degree of volitional effort:

• deliberate
• unintentional

Wallace's four-stage model of the creative process

• Preparation stage, information collection. Ends with a feeling of being unable to solve the problem.
• Incubation stage. Key stage. The person does not consciously deal with the problem.
• insight().
• Checking the solution.

Mechanisms of imagination

• agglutination - creating a new image from parts of other images
• hyperbolization - increasing or decreasing an object and its parts
• schematization - smoothing out differences between objects and identifying their similarities
• accentuation - emphasizing the features of objects
• typification - highlighting what is repetitive and essential in homogeneous phenomena

There are conditions that contribute to finding a creative solution: observation, ease of combination, sensitivity to the manifestation of problems.

Guilford, instead of the concept of “imagination,” used the term “ divergent thinking" It means generating new ideas for the purpose of human self-expression. Characteristics of divergent:

• fluency
• flexibility
• originality
• accuracy

Development of imagination in children

Through creativity, a child develops thinking. This is facilitated by persistence and expressed interests. Starting point To develop imagination, there must be directed activity, that is, the inclusion of children’s fantasies in specific practical problems.

Helps develop imagination

• situations of incompleteness
• resolving and even encouraging many issues
• encouraging independence and independent development
• bilingual
• positive attention to the child from adults.

The development of imagination is hindered by:

• conformity
• disapproval of the imagination
• rigid gender role stereotypes
• division of the game and
• willingness to change point of view
• admiration for authority

Imagination and reality

The world is perceived as an interpretation of data coming from . Being such, it is perceived as real, unlike most thoughts and images.

Functions of the imagination

• representing reality in images, as well as creating the opportunity to use them when solving problems;
• regulation of emotional states;
• voluntary regulation of cognitive processes and human states, in particular, attention, memory, speech;
• formation internal plan actions - the ability to perform them internally, manipulating images;
• planning and programming activities, drawing up programs, assessing their correctness, and the implementation process.

Imagination and cognitive processes

Imagination is cognitive process, the specificity of which is the processing of past experience.

The relationship between imagination and organic processes is most clearly manifested in the following phenomena: ideomotor act and psychosomatic disease. Based on the connection between human images and his organic states, the theory and practice of psychotherapeutic influences is built. Imagination is inextricably linked with thinking. According to L. S. Vygotsky, it is permissible to say about the unity of these two processes.

Both thinking and imagination arise in a problem situation and individuals are motivated. The basis of both processes is advanced reflection. Depending on the situation, the amount of time, the level of knowledge and its organization, the same problem can be solved both with the help of imagination and with the help of thinking. The difference is that the reflection of reality, carried out in the process of imagination, occurs in the form of vivid ideas, while anticipatory reflection in the processes of thinking occurs by operating with concepts that allow a generalized and indirect knowledge of the environment. The use of a particular process is dictated, first of all, by the situation: creative imagination works mainly at that stage of cognition when the uncertainty of the situation is quite great. Thus, imagination allows you to make decisions even with incomplete knowledge.

In its activity, the imagination uses traces of past perceptions, impressions, ideas, that is, traces of memory (engrams). The genetic relationship between memory and imagination is expressed in the unity of the analytical-synthetic processes that form their basis. The fundamental difference between memory and imagination is revealed in the different direction of the processes of active operation with images. Thus, the main tendency of memory is to restore a system of images that is as close as possible to the situation that took place in experience. Imagination, on the contrary, is characterized by the desire for the maximum possible transformation of the original figurative material.

Imagination is included in perception, influences the creation of images of perceived objects and, at the same time, itself depends on perception. According to Ilyenkov’s ideas, the main function of imagination is the transformation of an optical phenomenon, consisting of irritation of the surface of the retina by light waves, into the image of an external thing.

Imagination is closely related to the emotional sphere. This connection is dual in nature: on the one hand, the image is capable of evoking strong feelings, on the other, a feeling that once arises can become the cause of active imagination. This system discussed in detail by L. S. Vygotsky in his work “Psychology of Art”. The main conclusions he comes to can be stated as follows. According to the law of the reality of feelings, “all our fantastic and unreal experiences, in essence, proceed on a completely real emotional basis.” Based on this, Vygotsky concludes that fantasy is the central expression of the emotional. According to the law of unipolar energy expenditure, nervous energy tends to be wasted at one pole - either at the center or at the periphery; any increase in energy expenditure at one pole immediately entails its weakening at the other. Thus, with the intensification and complexity of fantasy as the central moment of the emotional reaction, its peripheral side (external manifestation) is delayed in time and weakens in intensity. Thus, imagination allows you to gain a variety of experiences and at the same time remain within the framework of what is socially acceptable. Everyone gets the opportunity to work through unnecessary emotional stress, discharging it with the help of fantasies, and thus compensating for unmet needs.