Theoretical-methodologocal analysis of reductional tendencies in psychology

- Папуча, М.В. (orcid.org/0000-0001-5264-3241) (2018) Theoretical-methodologocal analysis of reductional tendencies in psychology Актуальні проблеми психології. Методологія і теорія психології, 1 (14). pp. 242-254.

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Abstract

Theoretical-methodological aspects of reductionism in psychological cognition are analysed in the article. Following aspects were distinguished: 1) attraction to authority and aspiration for paradigmality; 2) accentation of problems of past or future phenomenonal existence; 3) tendencies towards posterization and averaging of scientifically-psychological facts; 4) "fear of substantionality"; 5) global principle of mediation and mistrust of science to direct. Views of different scientists and methodologies of psychological cognition are analysed in application to the indicated problems. In particular, views of L.S. Vygotsky are studied in relation to theoretical-methodological problems of psychology and his aspiration to create "general psychology" which would become a foundation for diverse psychological researches. The article stresses that rapid development of very different directions in psyche researches creates unique possibilities for new scientific facts to be opened and comprehended, as well as new laws and principles to be established. It is underlined that the problem exists as a researcher’s problem, namely his/her competence, freedom and responsibility. It is mentioned that a psyche (psychology) can be studied with different aims: applied, concretely-empiric, analytical (when actually not psychical phenomena are investigated but texts about them), etc. Within the limits of each aim research plans can be different, and "mediation" really can be justified within the context of a certain system of research tasks. Thus, however, this system outlines and limits space of interpretations and deductions, thus an attempt of abstracting, when performing some concretely-applied tasks, will be methodologically illiterate. Conclusion is drawn, that reductional tendencies themselves must not be overcame, but must be reflected and taken into account.

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