The ancient Greeks are revered as the wise masters of philosophy. They also noticed that a person is "welded" from two parts: the external manifestation of mental activity and internal mental properties. There are many differences between people, but the most interesting are the features of the inner world. Understanding mental activity and the very concept of the psyche, in fact, is not as complicated as it seems.

Functions of the psyche

In modern psychology, a more precise definition is given that helps to understand the phenomenon itself.

The psyche is a mirror. Subjective reflection of the objective world and reaction to it. The basis of the work of the psyche is a set of many "sensually" and "reactionary" directed connections.

A specific area of ​​the brain is responsible for some functions. But delegation is also characteristic of the main "thinking" organ of a person, therefore, the entire cerebral cortex is responsible for some forms of manifestation of certain functions. The human psyche performs the following functions:

Reflective

Emotional

Generation of emotional reactions to certain situations.

Strong-willed

Possibility of "free" choice. Disputed by most modern psychologists.

Importance to humans

At the end of the 19th century, scientists believed that congenitality determines all future life. L. S. Vygotsky believed that mental development a person occurs according to historical laws, not biological ones.

A person's capabilities are directly related to the level of his development.

The level of development of the psyche establishes the quality of professional activity, manifestation and direction of will and norms of behavior. Brain biochemistry, and as a result, behavior, is regulated by three divisions: the pineal gland, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. With the malfunctioning of the glands, which are directed by the listed departments, changes are also observed in the mental state of a person.

Processes

The actions taking place in a person's consciousness and the developed emotional reaction to external stimuli. In many ways they coincide with functions.

Regulatory

The other side of external perception. Develop the principles of the system of behavior. Expression of will, motivation, goal setting.

Cognitive

Comprehending specific situation from all sorts of sides and the ability to act according to their idealistic ideas. This includes perception, memory and imagination.

Communicative

The need to join forces with people to achieve a specific purpose pushed primitive man to the invention of conscious communication.

States

This is a characteristic of an individual picture of the world and norms of behavior, fixed over a relatively long period of time. Specifications mental states can be predicted.

1. Emotional... Experienced feelings.
2. Activation... An indicator of a person's activity or passivity.
3. Temporary... The duration of the state.
4. Tonic... They are similar to activation, only here we mean a specific moment - whether a person is cheerful, whether he is depressed.

Properties of the psyche

The main distinguishing features of the psyche are flexibility and learning. The famous scientist Tatiana Chernigovskaya says that the brain cannot do one thing - not to learn.

The fundamental difference between humans and animals is the ability and willingness to influence circumstances in some cases. This is called the expression of will.

The ability to act on the basis of accumulated experience and the ability to choose the way of their behavior. In general, properties are relatively stable formations that determine the character of an individual. Divided into three categories:

1. Life position... Beliefs, ideal self-image, etc.
2. Character and temperament... Inborn psycho-physical personality traits and the chosen demeanor.
3. Capabilities... The development of will, intelligence and a predisposition to creativity.

Mental phenomena

Psychology studies the foundation, consisting of processes, properties and states of the psyche. However, not all processes are realized by a person. According to scientists, self-consciousness cannot exist separately from the unconscious, superconscious, preconscious and subconscious. Unconscious processes, which are the first level of the psyche, such as breathing, reproduction, and often even automatic thinking, are not "brought to the surface" so as not to overload the brain.

With their individual unconscious people form the collective unconscious, that is, the history of the entire human race. It was first pointed out by Jung in his work The Structure of the Soul.

The concept of the human psyche is one of the most studied and at the same time mysterious. Despite the huge amount of fundamental research on this topic, there are still a huge number of questions and mysteries to which mankind has yet to find an answer.

Basic concepts of the psyche

Study of the features human psyche engaged in by a huge number of scientists and researchers. Naturally, each of them forms its own definition of this concept. It is worth considering the most commonly used ones.

The concept of the psyche No. 1 implies the activity of reflecting and regulating the phenomena of reality. Thanks to this, there is an active interaction with the outside world, as well as the knowledge of universal human experience.

The concept of psyche No. 2 implies the laws of the formation and functioning of the inner world and the images of reality that are formed in the consciousness of a person.

Concept No. 3 defines the psyche as a subjective reflection of reality through the system ideal images through which there is an interaction with the environment, as well as orientation in it.

Fundamentals of the psyche

Based on the conclusions of various specialists studying the concept of the psyche, several key provisions can be distinguished that determine the specifics of this phenomenon:

• The emergence of the psyche occurred simultaneously with the appearance on Earth of living organisms as a mechanism
• The highest stage in the development of the psyche is consciousness. Its appearance is associated with the development of human labor activity and the formation of collectives.
• The psyche is formed under the influence of vigorous human activity in the process of transition from external interaction with objects into a specific image, and then into a regulated action.
• The formation of the psyche is due to sociocultural factors and indirectly brain activity.
• Mental moments have a systemic organization and a well-defined structure.

The concept and structure of the psyche

The psyche is a complex systemic phenomenon that includes such structural elements:

• Mental processes are phenomena that provide reflection and awareness of reality. Distinguish between cognitive, emotional and
• Mental properties are stable and constantly duplicating personality traits that determine the behavior, temperament, character and abilities of a person.
• Mental states are the quality of functioning and the level of performance of the psyche at a particular point in time. It is about activity, cheerfulness, passivity, apathy, and so on.
• Activity - a set of actions that ensure the satisfaction of interests and needs.

The structure of consciousness

The definition of the concept of psyche is closely related to the concept of consciousness. The last category is characterized by the following structure:

• The unconscious is the initial level of the psyche, which can be individual (associated with basic instincts) and collective (due to historical laws).
• Subconscious - includes ideas, aspirations and desires that the psyche has perceived as signals. Subconscious images can be actualized (emerge in memory) after a long period of time.
• Preconsciousness is an intermediate state of the psyche, which is presented in the form of a stream of thoughts, associations and images, as well as a wide range of emotions.
• Consciousness itself is highest level reflection of the processes of reality, through which a complete knowledge of the surrounding world and its transformation is achieved.
• Superconsciousness is mental characteristics which a person can form by himself as a result of systematic and purposeful efforts. An example is the conscious regulation of somatic conditions (for example, walking on broken glass or hot coals, slowing the heart rate, and so on).

The main types of mental processes

The concept of the psyche includes such a category as mental processes. This is everything that happens in a person's head and is reflected in mental phenomena. The following types of processes can be distinguished:

• Cognitive is the perception of the world through the transformation of incoming information. This is all about sensation, imagination, thinking and memory.
• Regulations - provide a certain organization, intensity and direction of behavior. These are motivation, goal setting, decision making and control over their implementation, as well as emotions and volitional processes.
• Communication - provide interpersonal communication, which occurs through the understanding of feelings and thoughts. This applies to both verbal and non-verbal communication.

Key functions of the psyche

When studying the concept of the psyche, the functions of the psyche play a decisive role. Here are the main ones:

• Communicative - provides such a perception of reality, thanks to which a person's need for communication is realized.
• Cognitive - involves the collection and analysis of information about the surrounding world with the subsequent awareness of their place and meaning in it.
• Reflective - allows you to choose an answer from a variety of options related to a particular situation.
• Regulatory - provides a change in forms of human behavior, depending on external environment and the prevailing circumstances.
• Emotional - generates sensory reactions to certain phenomena of the surrounding world.
• Strong-willed - provides an opportunity for free life choice.

Mind and brain

The concept of the psyche in psychology is associated with the central nervous system, which, in turn, originates in the human brain. In this regard, it is advisable to delve into the study of the mechanism of the formation of the psyche. Here are the processes that take place in different parts of the brain:

• The motor and speech centers are concentrated in the frontal lobes. This area is responsible for the motor skills of speech and the ability for analytical activity. It also presents such psychological functions as the formation of will and motives for achievements, meanings and human values, goal setting, morality.
• The temporal lobes are the location of the auditory, gustatory and olfactory centers, as well as the centers of perception and understanding of speech. This area carries out an expressive speech function. From the point of view of the psyche, it is worth noting the presence on the medial surface of the centers of joy, grief, fear, pleasure, sex drive and security.
• The parietal regions are responsible for sensitivity to heat, cold, pain, touch, and pungency. It is these fields that are responsible for the perception and interpretation of musical melodies.

The concept of mental images

The concept of the psyche is inextricably linked with the concept of a mental image, which is an integrative reflection of reality. This is a kind of information model, on the basis of which a person's vital activity is determined. The following properties are inherent in mental images:

• Idealism. A person perceives the world in the form of ideal forms that have developed as a result of past experience and mental states. Thus, at different people the images are not the same.
• Primary and secondary. Images are first formed on the basis of perceptions and sensations, after which they are transformed into memory and a way of thinking.
• Informativeness. Images reflect data on the localization of real objects in space, as well as a set of properties inherent in them.
• Build activity. Images do not appear at once, but sequentially, on the basis of motor and biomechanical processes.
• Multidimensionality. Images do not function independently, but in the context of reality or a specific activity.
• Plastic. With images, as well as with real objects, it is possible to perform certain "mental actions", to play behavioral variants, to simulate development, depending on changes in reality.
• Information capacity. The image is formed on the basis of information about reality, and also serves as a data source itself.
• Generalization. The image is information model, a formed model, in which key primary information is collected, essential for the perception of objects of reality.

Characteristics of a healthy psyche

Considering the concept of the human psyche, it is worth paying attention to the signs of its normal functioning. A healthy psyche has the following characteristics:

• Adequate response of receptors to various stimulus signals.
• Balanced reflexivity based on evaluative and analytical processing of signals entering the brain.
• The presence of signaling subsystems that develop in proportion to the development of judgments.

Approaches to the definition of psyche possession

In general psychology, the concept of the psyche is studied only in relation to a person. However, some researchers are of the opinion that other creatures also have this property. Based on the difference in views on this issue, several theories have been formed, namely:

• Anthropopsychism (Descartes) is a theory that defends the opinion that the psyche is inherent only in human beings.
• Panpsychism (French materialism) is a theory that advocates the universal spirituality of nature. It means that the psyche is equally inherent in all living things (people, animals) and inanimate objects(plants, stones).
• Biopsychism is a theory that defends the opinion that the psyche is inherent in all objects of living nature (including plants).
• Neuropsychism (Darwin) is a theory that defends the opinion that the psyche is inherent only in those objects (beings) that have a central nervous system.
• Brain psychism (Platonov) is a theory that defends the opinion that the psyche is inherent in creatures that have a brain and a tubular structure of the nervous system. So, for example, insects cannot have a psyche, since they do not have a pronounced brain, and the nervous system is arranged according to a nodular type.
• Sensitive - the psyche is inherent in those creatures that can react to stimuli of the external environment that are vital (sound of danger, smell of food, and so on) with the subsequent formation of conditioned reflexes.

Key differences between the human psyche and the psyche of animals

If we consider the concept of the human psyche in comparison with other living things (namely, with animals), certain conclusions suggest themselves. So, the difference in the psyche of people is expressed in the following:

• In addition to hereditary-empirical forms of behavior, a person also uses the experience of ancestors, which is transmitted in the form of oral and written rhea. Thus, the human psyche is constantly being improved and enriched by continuously renewing social experience.
• Human consciousness reflects only the most essential aspects and patterns of reality, which make it possible to solve more deep problems not by trial and error (like animals), but by establishing patterns.
• The psyche and consciousness of a person are characterized by awareness of the goals of activity and the ability to model future events. Moreover, a person can evaluate the results of his actions from the point of view of the system of universal human events and knowledge. That is, a person is not limited to direct perception of reality, but is inclined to predict, ahead of reality.
• a person is formed under the influence of social consciousness.

Evolutionary development of the psyche

It is important to pay attention to the evolutionary development of the reflection of reality in order to gain a deeper understanding of the concept under consideration. The development of the psyche occurs in accordance with the following successive stages:

• Elementary sensory psyche determines the ability to respond to individual properties of objects (biologically neutral stimuli). The peculiarity of this stage is that instincts and innate behavioral programs that cause conditioned reflexes.
• Perceptual stage - implies a holistic objective perception through the integration of individual properties into a holistic image. Complex instincts are manifested due to motor behavior, the search for positive stimuli, as well as the development of protective behavior.
• The intellectual stage is characterized by research activities, the ability to solve problems of different levels of complexity, as well as to transfer the results obtained to the updated conditions of reality. The essence of the concept of "psyche" at this stage is the ability to reflect intersubject relationships with minimization of the value of innate instincts.
• The stage of consciousness reflects various manifestations of the surrounding world, as well as awareness of one's own inner world and its significance in the environment. The ability for purposeful activity and regulation of one's own mental processes appears.

Personality theories

The definition of the concept of psyche is inextricably linked with the concept of personality, which is formed under its influence. In this regard, researchers offer various theories of personality. The most widespread are the following:

• Psychodynamic (Freud) - defines personality as a system of aggressive sexual motives and defense mechanisms. At the same time, Id, Ego and Superego are formed.
• Analytical (Jung) defines personality as a set of innate archetypes, each of which has certain properties. At the same time, the formation of the psyche is influenced by the collective and individual unconscious, as well as the individual conscious.
• Humanistic (Rogers and Maslow) defines personality as inner world formed in the process of self-actualization. In the structure of the psyche, the real and ideal "I" is distinguished.
• Cognitive (Kelly) gives general concept about the psyche and personality as a system of constructs through which the life experience of a particular individual is perceived and processed. Moreover, each person has his own system of constructs (nuclear and peripheral).
• Behavioral (Bandura) defines personality as a set of social skills, acquired reflexes and a system of internal factors (efficiency, availability, significance).
• Activity (Rubinstein, Leontiev, Abulkhanova, Brushlinsky) defines a person as a conscious subject with a certain social status and socially useful role.
• Dispositional (Allport, Eysenck) defines a person as complex system formal and dynamic features, as well as meaningful properties that form a proprium.

The mental structure of the personality

Personality is a kind of reflection of the concept of the psyche. In this regard, it is appropriate to consider the mental structure of a person, which is a set of properties, qualities, relationships, positions, algorithms and other factors that determine human behavior. Many psychologists have dealt with this issue, but most widespread received the theory of Platonov. He identified such components mental structure personality:

• focus;
• an experience;
• individual specificity of mental processes;
• biological conditioning.

Character and psyche

When considering the essence of the concept of "psyche", the question of character invariably arises. The first thing to note is that they are not the same thing at all.

Character can be defined as a set of mental properties that leave an imprint on behavior and actions in various life circumstances. On its basis, it is possible to predict how an individual will act when he finds himself in certain conditions. The mental properties of a person that determine behavior are character traits. We can say that the character reflects the attitude towards oneself, towards others and towards the world in general. Moreover, this relationship has a conscious expression in the form of a worldview.

Character is closely related to all aspects of the psyche. The line of behavior is influenced by cognitive processes, will, feelings that prevail in the mental structure of the individual and determine his behavior. In this regard, four groups of character traits should be distinguished:

1. Common features, forming the mental warehouse of the personality. These are, for example, adherence to principles, courage, activity, discipline. That is, the first characteristic that comes to mind when thinking about a person, as well as one that is inherent in a large number of people.
2. Traits that express attitude towards others. This is sociability or isolation, frankness or secrecy, sensitivity or callousness, and so on.
3. Traits that reflect the individual's attitude towards himself. It can be self-esteem or self-deprecation, modesty or arrogance, and so on.
4. Traits that reflect the attitude of the individual to their activities and work in general. In this regard, initiative and persistence (or passivity and laziness) can be distinguished.

Psychologists agree that character is not an innate and permanent characteristic. This property is formed throughout life under the influence external factors and the individual's own efforts.