Representations and imaginations are their properties. Imagination in human life. Physiological basis of imagination

Views are among secondary images, which, unlike primary ones (sensation and perception), arise in consciousness in the absence of direct stimuli, which brings them closer to images of memory, imagination and visual-figurative thinking.

Usually under presentation understand the mental process of reflecting objects and phenomena of the surrounding reality in the form of generalized visual images, and by imagination- a mental process consisting in the creation of new images by processing the material of perceptions and ideas obtained in previous experience.

The product (end result) of the representation is image-representation, or a secondary sensory-visual image of objects and phenomena, preserved and reproduced in consciousness without the direct impact of the objects themselves on the senses.

It is necessary to distinguish from the image-representation as a product performance as a process of deliberate and voluntary creation of an image and mental manipulation (operation) of it when solving various kinds of problems.

Representations are in a complex relationship with other mental processes.

With sensation and perception, representation is related by the figurative, visual form of their existence. But sensation and perception always precede representation, which cannot arise out of nowhere. The representation is precisely the result of generalization of a number of essential and sometimes unimportant features of an object.

Representations often act as standards. This circumstance brings them closer to the processes of identification. Identification presupposes the presence of at least two objects - real, perceived and reference. There is no such duality in ideas.

Representations are often called memory images, since in both cases a person’s past experience is reproduced. Both of them belong to secondary images that arise without relying on direct perception. But the representation lacks the processes of remembering and storing. In the process of remembering, a person is always aware of the connection with the past, but in addition to the past, the present and the future can be reflected in the idea.

Images of the imagination are very close to ideas. Imagination, like representation, uses material previously received by perception and stored by memory. KD Ushinsky believed that the essence of imagination lies in the combination of images and representations. But still, imagination is a more creative process that develops over time, in which it can often be traced storyline. In representation, the object is more static: it is either motionless, or a limited number of manipulative operations are performed with it. Representation acts as a mechanism for recreating imagination. But besides him there is also various shapes creative imagination, which are not reducible to representation.

The degree of control a person has over the images of his imagination varies greatly. Therefore, they distinguish, imagination arbitrary(active) and involuntary(passive). The degree of arbitrariness of images varies smoothly from one form of imagination to another. Thus, the least degree of arbitrariness of imagination is found in dreams and hallucinations, and the greatest degree is found in creativity. According to the methods of creating images, they also distinguish recreating And creative imagination.

Images-representations serve as the basis visual-figurative thinking. In thinking processes, the emphasis is on searching and discovering something new, but in imagining processes, such a task is not set.

“The interpenetration of the visual and the generalized” in representations (B. G. Ananyev) constitutes their distinctive feature and allows us to speak of representation as an independent mental process.

Depending on the characteristics of the subject of representation, there are two main types of representations: visual, behind which there is a specific image, and abstract-logical, behind which there are abstract concepts (A. Richardson). Each of these types can have varying degrees of brightness, clarity and controllability.

The most common is the classification of visual representations according to modality (B. G. Ananyev). It includes visual, auditory, olfactory, tactile, gustatory And organic representation. The latter are the essence of ideas about the functional states of the body, individual organs and parts of the body. Here, the type of analyzer is taken as the basis for classification.

In accordance with the two main forms of existence of matter, two types of ideas are distinguished, such as ideas about space and ideas about time. Usually, both of them are multimodal, but it is possible to highlight the reflection of spatial and temporal characteristics separately at the level of visual and kinesthetic analyzers.

Based on the temporal relevance of ideas, a classification of images into reproductive and anti cipating(anticipating) (J. Piaget). In turn, each of them can be: a) static(idea of ​​a stationary object); b) kinetic(idea about different types of movement); V) transformative(reflection known to man transformations of objects - from reflecting the final result to reflecting all stages of transforming an object from the initial state to the final state).

IV.1.1. Characteristics of the presentation process. The process of representation is usually understood in two senses: as the creation of images and representations and as the operation of them. In both cases, representations acquire a dynamic character.

We can talk about changing perceptions in time And in space. As time passes, the presentation may become saturated with details, generalized, or, conversely, become more schematic; may become brighter and more distinct or, conversely, vague and undifferentiated. In space with image-representations, the following basic operations can be performed: mental rotation, large-scale transformations, various types of object movements, combining the components of the represented object, changes in spatial orientation, increment, grouping, splitting, etc.

Special group constitute operations of information recoding associated with a change in the dimension of an object. For example, when reading a geographical map, get an idea of ​​the terrain, and in a drawing lesson, imagine and depict a three-dimensional object in the form of projections on a plane.

Understanding representation as a process of operating with image-representations presupposes the presence of separate mental operations in this process. All mental operations can be divided into three groups (I. S. Yakimanskaya): 1) change in the process of imagining the position of an object (objects) or its parts (mental rotation, grouping, change in spatial orientation, mental movement of objects, etc.); 2) changes in the process of representing the structure of an object (scale transformations, changes in the representation of the dimension of objects, grouping of objects, etc.); 3) simultaneous changes in position and structure (increment, split, combination, etc.).

Operating and synthesis of images in the processes of imagination is carried out thanks to operations agglutination- combinations of qualities, properties, parts of objects that are incompatible in reality; hyperbolization- exaggeration or understatement of objects, their parts and qualities; sharpening- emphasizing any features; schematization- smoothing out differences and identifying similarities; typification- highlighting the essential in homogeneous phenomena and embodying it in any specific image.

The images with which a person operates include not only previously perceived objects and phenomena. The content of the images can also be something that he has never perceived directly: pictures of the distant past or future; places where he has never been and never will be; creatures that do not exist, not only on Earth, but in the Universe in general. Images allow a person to go beyond the real world in time and space. It is these images, transforming and modifying human experience, that are the main characteristic of the imagination.

Usually what is meant by imagination or fantasy is not exactly what is meant by these words in science. In everyday life, imagination or fantasy is called everything that is unreal, does not correspond to reality, and thus has no practical significance. In fact, imagination, as the basis of all creative activity, manifests itself equally in all aspects of cultural life, making artistic, scientific and technical creativity possible.

Through sensations, perception and thinking, a person reflects the real properties of objects in the surrounding reality and acts in accordance with them in a specific situation. Through memory he uses his past experiences. But human behavior can be determined not only by current or past properties of the situation, but also by those that may be inherent in it in the future. Thanks to this ability, images of objects appear in the human consciousness, which this moment do not exist, but can subsequently be embodied in concrete objects. The ability to reflect the future and act as expected, i.e. imaginary, situation typical only for humans.

Imagination- the cognitive process of reflecting the future by creating new images based on processing images of perception, thinking and ideas obtained in previous experience.

Through the imagination, images are created that have never generally been accepted by a person in reality. The essence of imagination is to transform the world. This determines the most important role of imagination in the development of man as an active subject.

Imagination and thinking are processes that are similar in their structure and functions. L. S. Vygotsky called them “extremely related,” noting the commonality of their origin and structure as psychological systems. He considered imagination as a necessary, integral moment of thinking, especially creative thinking, since thinking always includes the processes of forecasting and anticipation. In problematic situations, a person uses thinking and imagination. The idea of ​​a possible solution formed in the imagination strengthens the motivation of the search and determines its direction. The more uncertain the problem situation is, the more unknown there is in it, the more significant the role of imagination becomes. It can be carried out with incomplete initial data, since it supplements them with products of one’s own creativity.

A deep relationship also exists between imagination and emotional-volitional processes. One of its manifestations is that when an imaginary image appears in a person’s mind, he experiences true, real, and not imaginary emotions, which allows him to avoid unwanted influences and bring the desired images to life. L. S. Vygotsky called this the law of “emotional reality of imagination”

For example, a person needs to cross a stormy river by boat. Imagining that the boat might capsize, he experiences not imaginary, but real fear. This encourages him to choose a safer crossing method.

Imagination can influence the strength of emotions and feelings experienced by a person. For example, people often experience feelings of anxiety, worry about only imaginary, rather than real events. Changing the way you imagine can reduce anxiety and relieve tension. Imagining the experiences of another person helps to form and demonstrate feelings of empathy and compassion towards him. In volitional actions, imagining the final result of an activity encourages its implementation. The brighter the image of the imagination, the greater the motivating force, but the realism of the image also matters.

Imagination is a significant factor influencing personality development. Ideals, as an imaginary image that a person wants to imitate or strives for, serve as models for organizing his life, personal and moral development.

Types of imagination

There are different types of imagination. By degree of activity imagination can be passive or active. Passive imagination does not stimulate a person to take active action. He is satisfied with the created images and does not strive to realize them in reality or draws images that, in principle, cannot be realized. In life, such people are called utopians, fruitless dreamers. N.V. Gogol, having created the image of Manilov, made his name a household name for this type of people. Active Imagination is the creation of images, which are subsequently realized in practical actions and products of activity. Sometimes this requires a lot of effort and a significant investment of time from a person. Active imagination increases the creative content and efficiency of other activities.

Productive

Productive is called imagination, in the images of which there are many new things (elements of fantasy). The products of such imagination are usually similar to nothing or very little similar to what is already known.

Reproductive

Reproductive is an imagination, the products of which contain a lot of what is already known, although there are also individual elements of the new. This, for example, is the imagination of a novice poet, writer, engineer, artist, who initially create their creations according to known models, thereby learning professional skills.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are products of imagination generated by an altered (not normal) state of human consciousness. These conditions can arise for various reasons: illness, hypnosis, exposure to psychotropic substances such as drugs, alcohol, etc.

Dreams

Dreams are products of imagination aimed at a desired future. Dreams contain more or less real and, in principle, feasible plans for a person. Dreams as a form of imagination are especially characteristic of young people who still have most of their lives ahead of them.

Dreams

Dreams are unique dreams that, as a rule, are divorced from reality and, in principle, are not feasible. Dreams occupy an intermediate position between dreams and hallucinations, but their difference from hallucinations is that dreams are products of the activity of a normal person.

Dreams

Dreams have always been and still are of particular interest. Currently, they are inclined to believe that dreams can reflect the processes of information processing by the human brain, and the content of dreams is not only functionally related to these processes, but may include new valuable ideas and even discoveries.

Voluntary and involuntary imagination

Imagination is connected in various ways with the will of a person, on the basis of which voluntary and involuntary imagination are distinguished. If images are created when the activity of consciousness is weakened, imagination is called involuntary. It occurs in a half-asleep state or during sleep, as well as in certain disorders of consciousness. free imagination is a conscious, directed activity, performing which a person is aware of its goals and motives. It is characterized by the deliberate creation of images. Active and free imagination can be combined in various ways. An example of voluntary passive imagination is daydreaming, when a person deliberately indulges in thoughts that are unlikely to ever come true. Voluntary active imagination manifests itself in a long, purposeful search for the desired image, which is typical, in particular, for the activities of writers, inventors, and artists.

Recreative and creative imagination

In connection with past experience, two types of imagination are distinguished: recreative and creative. Recreating Imagination is the creation of images of objects that were not previously perceived in a complete form by a person, although he is familiar with similar objects or their individual elements. Images are formed according to a verbal description, a schematic image - a drawing, drawing, geographical map. In this case, the knowledge available regarding these objects is used, which determines the predominantly reproductive nature of the created images. At the same time, they differ from memory representations in the greater variety, flexibility and dynamism of image elements. Creative imagination - independent creation of new images that are embodied in original products various types activities with minimal indirect reliance on past experience.

Realistic imagination

Drawing various images in their imagination, people always evaluate the possibility of their implementation in reality. Realistic imagination takes place if a person believes in the reality and possibility of realizing the created images. If he does not see such a possibility, a fantastic imagination takes place. There is no hard line between realistic and fantastic imagination. There are many cases where an image born of a person’s fantasy as completely unrealistic (for example, the hyperboloid invented by A. N. Tolstoy) later became a reality. Fantastic imagination is present in children's role-playing games. It formed the basis of literary works of a certain genre - fairy tales, science fiction, “fantasy”.

With all the variety of types of imagination, they are characterized by a common function, which determines their main significance in human life - anticipation of the future, the ideal representation of the outcome of an activity before it is achieved. Other functions of the imagination are also associated with it - stimulating and planning. The images created in the imagination encourage and stimulate a person to realize them in specific actions. The transformative influence of imagination extends not only to a person’s future activity, but also to his past experience. Imagination promotes selectivity in its structuring and reproduction in accordance with the goals of the present and future. The creation of imaginative images is carried out through complex processes of processing actually perceived information and memory representations. Just as is the case in thinking, the main processes or operations of the imagination are analysis and synthesis. Through analysis, objects or ideas about them are divided into their component parts, and through synthesis, a holistic image of the object is rebuilt. But unlike thinking in the imagination, a person more freely handles the elements of objects, recreating new holistic images.

This is achieved through a set of processes specific to the imagination. The main ones are exaggeration(hyperbolization) and understatement of real-life objects or their parts (for example, creating images of a giant, genie or Thumbelina); accentuation- emphasizing or exaggerating real-life objects or their parts (for example, Pinocchio’s long nose, Malvina’s blue hair); agglutination- combining various, real-life parts and properties of objects in unusual combinations (for example, creating fictional images of a centaur, mermaid). The specificity of the imagination process is that they do not reproduce certain impressions in the same combinations and forms in which they were perceived and stored as past experience, but build new combinations and forms from them. This reveals a deep internal connection between imagination and creativity, which is always aimed at creating something new - material values, scientific ideas, or.

The relationship between imagination and creativity

There are different types of creativity: scientific, technical, literary, artistic etc. None of these types is possible without the participation of imagination. In its main function - anticipation of what does not yet exist, it determines the emergence of intuition, conjecture, insight as the central link of the creative process. Imagination helps a scientist to see the phenomenon being studied in a new light. In the history of science there are many examples of the emergence of images of the imagination, which were subsequently realized into new ideas, great discoveries and inventions.

The English physicist M. Faraday, studying the interaction of conductors with current at a distance, imagined that they were surrounded by invisible lines like tentacles. This led him to the discovery of force lines and phenomena electromagnetic induction. The German engineer O. Lilienthal observed and analyzed the soaring flight of birds for a long time. The image of an artificial bird that arose in his imagination served as the basis for the invention of the glider and the first flight on it.

When creating literary works, the writer realizes in words the images of his aesthetic imagination. Their brightness, breadth and depth of the phenomena of reality they cover are subsequently felt by readers, and evoke in them feelings of co-creation. L.N. Tolstoy wrote in his diaries that “when perceived truly works of art an illusion arises that a person does not perceive, but creates; it seems to him that he has produced such a beautiful thing.”

The role of imagination in pedagogical creativity is also great. Its specificity is that the results pedagogical activity They do not appear immediately, but after some, sometimes a long time. Their presentation in the form of a model of the child’s developing personality, the image of his behavior and thinking in the future determines the choice of teaching and upbringing methods, pedagogical requirements and influences.

All people have different abilities for creativity. Their formation is determined by a large number various kinds aspects. These include innate inclinations, human activity, environmental features, learning and upbringing conditions that influence the development of a person’s mental processes and personality traits that contribute to creative achievements.

Element 2 or not

K 155 LE 1

4 U un =5.25 V

Control questions:

1. Definition of the designation “body.

2. Give the input circuit of TTL logic and show the input currents of logical one and zero.

3.Connect any load to the output of the K155LE1 IC and show the currents on the output circuit and load.

4.Develop a truth table for any complex logic circuit.

Plan:

1. Features of higher cognitive processes

2. Representation as a mental process

3. Imagination as a mental process

The concept of higher cognitive processes

Higher cognitive processes include: idea, imagination, thinking And speech. Why are they called "higher"? Firstly, because they are based on simpler cognitive processes - sensation and perception, which more directly reflect reality. Any image that appears before our mind's eye comes from direct contact with reality, even if our imagination changes it in some bizarre way. But we cannot imagine something about which we do not have at least some, very little experience. For example, the expression “a dress as blue as the sky” will evoke an image in everyone because everyone has seen the sky. But the phrase “marengo-colored dress” will evoke an image only in someone who was once shown this color. It is impossible to “invent” or “imagine” it - the word itself does not contain a hint of color. So, higher cognitive processes are based on sensation and perception, which bring to us information from the external world, carefully stored in memory. What is the task of higher cognitive processes?

Thanks to them, our psyche is able to create an orderly picture of the world, a systematic reflection of accumulated experience - objects, events, processes, experiences, relationships, knowledge. This system in everyday speech called the “inner world” of a person. In other words, this is a unique way and result of reflecting the external, objective world.

Moreover, higher cognitive processes allow the person himself manage formation of your inner world, control its condition. Animals are not capable of this; they are, as it were, “hostages” of the processes occurring with them. Their behavior is always reactive character, that is, a response to an emerging need. An animal cannot “force” itself, “calm down” itself, “change its attitude” towards something. We can do this thanks to signs .

A sign is a symbol, a label, a substitute for a real object (or process). A sign can be not only a word or an image, but any object that evokes associations with what it stands for. For example, the word “tea” is just a combination of sounds, but for a Russian-speaking person it is a sign of an everyday drink and evokes appropriate reactions. A sharp turn sign forces the driver to slow down, as if he already saw a sharp turn ahead. The aroma of perfume that the wife constantly uses will be a sign for the husband that she is somewhere here or has just been here; etc. Signs encourage us to respond to them as if they were a real object. Imagine a lemon: bright yellow, almost round, what an uneven, dense skin it has... Imagine in every detail how you bite off a large piece of it, so that the juice flows down your chin - and your body will trigger the salivation reflex. But there is no lemon, there is only performance about him, which was activated when you read the corresponding words.

Representation as a mental process, its properties and functions

Representations are images of those objects or phenomena that we perceived before, and now we reproduce mentally. These are reflections stored in our memory of objects that we have ever encountered. Representations come to our aid when we need to interact with an object, and the object is beyond the limits of perception.

For example, a person who is visiting you for the first time asks how to get to the metro. You can take him out of the house and walk with him to the bus stop, or you can use your and his ability representation. Then you will say something like: “You leave the entrance, turn left, reach the end of the house, cross the playground,” and so on. To say this, you recall a memory of a path you are familiar with and describe it. Your friend, in turn, with the help of the words he hears (that is, signs), forms a certain model of the area in his head, which will help him orient himself in reality. Of course, these “pictures” will be different - yours will be more complete, and his will be more sketchy, but the main thing is that it will help him find his way.

In other words, a representation is an image of an object that reflects the properties of the object that are important to us. The better we know an object, the more important it is to us, the more we interact with it, the more complete our understanding will be. The task of representation is to orient us, to help us interact with the object. This implies view properties:

1) visibility . Representation is sensory-visual images of reality. Even abstract concepts - such as “love” or “geometry” - are still accompanied in our minds by certain images.

2) fragmentation . We have a good idea of ​​those properties of an object that are important to us and with which we constantly interact. Those properties that are not important to us are represented vaguely or absent in our inner world. For example, we do not pay attention to the color of the eyes of a casual acquaintance; If we don’t understand cars, we can remember the color of the car that is in our yard, but we are unlikely to pay attention to the brand.

3) instability And impermanence. Ideas disappear from the field of consciousness and have to be recalled again by an effort of will. Now one or another detail of the presented image comes to the fore. By becoming better acquainted with the object, we can “complete” our ideas and develop them. This is the essence of the learning process. If a person is not able (for various reasons - for example, dementia or injury) to develop and deepen his ideas - this means that he is not capable of learning.

Main view functions:

1) regulating . The side of the representation that is needed to perform the current task is activated. For example, if a person has a hand in a cast, then his ideas about everyday actions and objects (washing himself or removing a pan from the stove) will change.

2)signal The representation reflects not only the image of the object, but also all available information about it. Thus, a person who is contemplating at a party whether to drink or not to drink imagines not only the taste of the drink, but also the consequences: he will have to leave the car, a fight may happen, how he will feel tomorrow, etc.

3) tuning. Representations orient human activity depending on the nature of environmental influences.

Types of representations

The views are varied, as can be seen from the table below:

Table 1. Classification of main types of representations

1. By type of analyzer. We can imagine, recall not only a visual image, but also sound, smell, taste, tactile sensations (for example, imagine running your finger across ice). The diversity of experience gives rise to a wealth of ideas, thanks to which the stories of other people and the books we read seem to “come to life” and are filled with our experiences. And on the contrary, the poorer the world of a person’s ideas, the more difficult it is for him to get carried away by something, the less interest he has in the world. Experiences and ideas stored in memory are a bridge between a person’s inner world and the outer world.

2. By the degree of generalization. Single ideas are ideas about unique phenomena and events (for example, the image of a mother or the memory of a first kiss). General representations are an image-scheme of a certain class of objects, a system of their most significant properties. As a result, this image loses its unique character and becomes a landmark, a symbol of an entire category of objects or events (for example, an airplane, a flower, a parade). in some languages ​​this distinction is emphasized by articles. For example, in English language a general concept is described using the article “a”, and a single concept is described using the article “the” ( a flower – a flower in general the flower- exactly this flower).

3. According to the degree of volitional effort. Involuntary representations, that is, arising against our will, are caused associations, needs, emotions. For example, if a child does not show up at home by the appointed time, some parents have terrible images of possible misfortunes, especially if they often watch relevant films and programs. Let us remember that ideas do not appear out of nowhere; they are nutrient medium are impressions from the outside world. Against, arbitrary ideas are formed according to our active desire, with an effort of will. For example: what will my room look like with different wallpaper? Should I get a different hairstyle?

Images of representation can be reflections of real objects - then they are called memory representations. But they can also be new combinations of known details and properties of objects - this imagination.

Imagination as a mental process

Imagination has been called “the most psychic of mental processes.” If by the term “mental” we mean reflection, modeling of reality, then the fruits of the imagination are indeed less dependent on the surrounding world than images of perception or the results of thinking. Imagination is an exclusively human ability to construct new holistic images of reality by processing the content of sensory, intellectual and emotional-semantic experience. We can say that imagination is a constructor, the ability to create something holistic from disparate details. Let's consider fantastic characters and objects: a centaur is the head and torso of a man on the body of a horse; an elf is a beautiful, slender, thin-boned person with long hair and ears unusual shape, capable of living much longer than a person; a flying carpet is an item that has appearance and the size of the carpet, which is capable of flying like a leaf or a bird and obeying orders like a dog; etc. With the help of imagination, we create images of objects that do not exist in the real world, but are combinations of properties of really existing objects. Moreover, people are able to translate their imagination into reality in the form of objects, structures, and works of art. Almost all human culture is the result of the imagination. And it is precisely the lack of culture among animals that allows us to say that humans are the only creatures endowed with imagination. How do we use it, what are its functions?

Functions of the imagination

With the help of imagination we can:

1) represent reality in images and be able to manipulate them, solving logical problems. Here, for example, is an old riddle: a woman was walking to Moscow and met three men. Each of them carried a bag, and in each bag there was a cat. How many creatures in total went to Moscow?

2) voluntarily regulate cognitive processes. For example, the famous detective characters Miss Marple and Father Brown said that their imagination helped them “figure out” the criminal: they imagined why a person could commit such a crime and what state he was in.

3) plan and program activities, evaluate the correctness of the program and methods of its implementation. Among the NLP techniques there is this: imagine that you have achieved what you want, your dream has come true. How do you feel under these conditions? Are you happy? If the answer is negative, then the desire was momentary or untrue. The good thing is that with the help of imagination you can figure this out before you get what you want.

4) form an internal plan of action, performing them in the mind, manipulating images. We do this regularly - for example, calculating travel time or thinking through the sequence of household chores.

5) regulate emotional states by satisfying imagination needs. Who is not familiar with the pictures of misfortunes that involuntarily appear before the mind’s eye and befall the head of our offender or competitor! Phenomena of the same order are obsessive thoughts about food among the hungry; dreams in which our cherished desires come true; dreams of lovers. The forms of imagination are diverse.

Types, forms and techniques of imagination

Just like memory representations, imagination representations can be active or passive. Active (voluntary) Imagination is a conscious mental activity subordinated to some goal. This is how an artist thinks through the composition of a painting, a designer thinks about the interior of a room, and a student tries to imagine a cross-section of a figure. Passive (involuntary) imagination serves the unconscious - desires, fears, beliefs. In this case, the images appear as if by themselves and are a reflection of unconscious thoughts and needs. For example, the need to cross a ravine on an unstable bridge causes a person to imagine how he breaks down and falls. Imaginative ideas stimulate action, which is why it is so important to be able to control the imagination.

Types of imagination also differ in the degree of independence.

Recreating is called the type of imagination that turns on when we read a book or listen to a story. Illustrations of what we heard (read) appear before our inner gaze. The richer personal experience person and the greater the skill of the storyteller, the more impressions and emotions the person receives. The reconstructive imagination is trained precisely in the process of receiving verbal (that is, verbal) information. Therefore, reading books and communication contributes more to the development of imagination than watching films and computer games, where the images have already been created, it is enough to passively perceive them.

Unlike the re-creator, creative Imagination is the independent creation of new images in the process of creative activity. The image of Sherlock Holmes or Godzilla, “Mona Lisa” and Masyanya, a computer and a thimble - all objects created by man (works of art, technical structures, household items) arose as the material embodiment of an imaginary image.

Imagination exists in the following forms:

Fantasy (dream) – an image of an object or event that satisfies a current need, not related to reality . Fantasies calm a person rather than motivate him to activity. So, a girl from a poor family, where swearing and reproaches are constantly heard, dreams of a rich and affectionate husband. A physically weak and indecisive boy imagines himself as a powerful wizard or an all-powerful warrior.

A dream is an image of a desired future. It is connected not only with a person’s needs, but also with his real capabilities, and therefore encourages action. Arising involuntarily, developing and capturing a person’s attention, a dream reflects his needs and inclinations. This is the first step in planning your actions, building your own life. Therefore in adolescence when a person already knows enough about life to imagine his options life path When a person has a lot of energy, desires and time, dreaming is simply necessary. If a person does not have a dream, his life will be subject to external conditions, he will embody the scenarios that the environment offers him. In this case, all the important choices of his life will be explained something like this: “it’s customary here,” “what else is there to do here?”, “that’s what my parents did,” etc.

Dreams are a passive form of imagination, reflecting a person’s unconscious desires, fears, and ideas. The so-called “pregnant nightmares” are known, when a woman dreams of something terrible happening to her child or husband. Nightmares show how important these people are to a woman and how scary it would be to lose them. Because thinking about it is unpleasant, such fears can be repressed into the subconscious.

External influences may also be reflected in the dream on the sleeping person. A heavy blanket causes a dream about a person suffocating in a cave or an avalanche, the smell of food creates pictures of a feast, etc. in this case, the imagination seems to be trying to explain the sensations, to create a coherent picture of what is happening. The book of the psychoanalyst and philosopher E. Fromm, “The Forgotten Language,” is devoted to the analysis of dreams.

Hallucinations are products of uncontrolled imagination. They are a sign of a mental disorder caused by overwork, mental illness, mental trauma or poisoning. In such a situation, a person considers the products of his imagination to be real existing objects and acts in relation to them accordingly (talks to imaginary voices, escapes from imaginary monsters, etc.). Such actions can be dangerous for the person himself or those around him.

Even the most bizarre images of the imagination are created from the properties of real objects stored in memory. Their fantastic nature is achieved through the following techniques of imagination :

1) Agglutination is a combination of properties of different objects in one. For example: mermaid, sphinx, Minotaur, X-Men.

2) Accenting– emphasizing the features of the displayed phenomenon, changing proportions. For example: Thumb Thumb, the giant shark from the movie Jaws.

3) Typing– generalization of properties that characterize an entire class of objects, as a result of which the property of this class of objects is concentrated and expressed in a single image “in pure form" This is how the images of “beautiful princess”, “crazy professor”, “ideal soldier”, etc. arise.

The influence of imagination on the body

Imagination indirectly controls our behavior. How does this happen? Let us recall the mechanism of objectification of needs. Until the need was satisfied by some object, it was perceived only as a vague tension. Since the need once met its “object,” each of its experiences has acquired concrete outlines - memory helpfully offers an image of the desired object, and imagination constructs a situation in which the need can be satisfied. Thus, a smoker immediately “deciphers” the body’s signal, starting to look for cigarettes, although most likely it will be difficult to explain how exactly he feels the urge to smoke. If a non-smoking person had been secretly created a nicotine addiction (for example, by injection), the perceived discomfort would not have caused him to want to buy cigarettes - the need would not have been “objectified.” So, the images of the imagination determine the vector of our activity.

Further, the very essence of higher cognitive processes lies in the formation of a system of signs that symbolize real objects and processes. For example, a person imagines himself walking on a tightrope at a high altitude, and his heart rate increases; someone's fists clench at the thought of a possible insult; a familiar song evokes memories and a corresponding mood. Imaginary images can affect the body in the same way as real situations :

ü The phenomenon of “stigma” is known - bleeding in impressionable and fanatical Christians from the hands and feet - that is, where the nails pierced the body of Christ on the cross.

ü The “placebo” phenomenon is that a person’s disease disappears after taking a “new, incredible effective medicine”, which turns out to be saline solution or chalk powder.

ü The phenomenon of “false pregnancy” is known, when a woman who passionately dreams of motherhood experiences all the changes in the functioning of the body that are characteristic of a pregnant woman - except for the presence of a fetus.

ü The phenomenon of the ideomotor act is that if a person concentrates on how he makes certain movements, micromovements of the corresponding muscles actually occur and the consolidation of motor skills occurs. This phenomenon is used by athletes and musicians when exercise is not possible.

So, Imagination is a powerful tool for influencing the body. The images that appear before our inner gaze change the mental and physical state of a person (more about the relationship emotional state and physiology are written in the following chapters). What are you thinking, worrying about, dreaming about? What is the psychological background of the average person, what emotions and moods predominate in him? Each emotion causes corresponding changes in the functioning of the body. This is muscle tension or relaxation, free or difficult breathing, slowing or speeding up metabolism, etc. These processes largely determine human health and well-being. Hence, imagination must be controlled, otherwise it will control us- form desires, suggest ways to achieve them, constructing frightening or attractive images. Those who have had to struggle with addiction know how difficult it is to resist constantly emerging images of the desired object, how strong, almost uncontrollable, the desire to take appropriate actions becomes. Our ancestors believed that this was the work of the devil; and now many believe in damage, radiation, and spells. But scientific theories and practical systems based on them show that every person has the power to control his or her desires and create the desired states of mind and body. About this, for example, books by Russian scientists L.P. Grimak “Reserves of the human psyche” and Yu.M. Orlova "Ascent to Individuality".

Control questions:

Imagination is the mental process of creating an image of an object or situation by restructuring existing ideas. Images of the imagination do not always correspond to reality; they contain elements of fantasy and fiction. If the imagination draws pictures to the consciousness that nothing or little corresponds in reality, then it is called fantasy. If the imagination is directed to the future, it is called a dream. The process of imagination always occurs in inextricable connection with two other mental processes - memory and thinking.

Types of imagination

• Active imagination - using it, a person, by force of will, at his own request evokes appropriate images in himself.
• Passive imagination - its images arise spontaneously, regardless of the will and desire of a person.
• Productive imagination - in it, reality is consciously constructed by a person, and not simply mechanically copied or recreated. But at the same time, she is still creatively transformed in the image.
• Reproductive imagination - the task is to reproduce reality as it is, and although there is also an element of fantasy here, such imagination is more reminiscent of perception or memory than creativity.

Functions of imagination:

1. Figurative representation of reality;
2. Regulation of emotional states;
3. Voluntary regulation of cognitive processes and human states;
4. Formation of an internal action plan.

Ways to create imagination images:

• Agglutination is the creation of images by combining any qualities, properties, parts.
• Emphasis - highlighting any part, detail of the whole.
• Typing is the most difficult technique. The artist depicts a specific episode that absorbs a lot of similar ones and thus is, as it were, their representative. A literary image is also formed, in which the typical features of many people of a given circle, a certain era are concentrated.

Imagination processes, like memory processes, can vary in the degree of voluntariness or intentionality. An extreme case of involuntary imagination is dreams, in which images are born unintentionally and in the most unexpected and bizarre combinations. The activity of the imagination, which unfolds in a half-asleep, drowsy state, for example, before falling asleep, is also involuntary at its core.

Among the various types and forms of voluntary imagination, one can distinguish reconstructive imagination, creative imagination and dream.

Recreating imagination manifests itself when a person needs to recreate a representation of an object that matches its description as fully as possible.

Creative imagination characterized by the fact that a person transforms ideas and creates new ones not according to an existing model, but independently outlining the contours created image and choosing the necessary materials for it.

A special form of imagination is a dream - the independent creation of new images. The main feature of a dream is that it is aimed at future activities, i.e. A dream is an imagination aimed at a desired future.

If the voluntary or active imagination is intentional, i.e. is associated with volitional manifestations of a person, then passive imagination can be intentional and unintentional. Intentional passive imagination creates images that are not associated with the will. These images are called dreams. In dreams, the connection between imagination and the needs of the individual is most clearly revealed. The predominance of dreams in a person’s mental life can lead him to a separation from reality, a withdrawal into a fictional world, which, in turn, begins to inhibit the mental and social development of this person.

Unintentional passive imagination is observed when the activity of consciousness is weakened, its disorders are in a half-asleep state, in sleep, etc. The most significant manifestation of passive imagination is hallucinations, in which a person perceives non-existent objects. When classifying types of imagination, we proceed from two main characteristics. This is the degree of manifestation of volitional efforts and the degree of activity, or awareness.

A representation, or secondary image, is an image of an object reproduced by a subject, based on the past experience of this subject and arising in the absence of the influence of the object on his senses. Like perceptions, ideas are visual. However, they differ from perceptions by less brightness, fragmentation (if there is a holistic image of an object, some details may be missing), instability (they are characterized by variability, “fluidity” of details and properties). Images of representation also differ from images of perception in their generality. The generality of the image can be expressed to varying degrees, namely from a concrete representation of an object in a particular moment to an abstract image of an entire class of objects. Highly generalized ideas are inherent in the system of thinking.
Representations are multimodal, i.e., they include tactile-kinesthetic, visual, auditory and other components. However, in each specific representation, some modality turns out to be leading: thus, auditory, gustatory and other representations are distinguished. Visual representations play the greatest role in human mental activity. If the representations of other modalities are distinguished by concreteness and a low level of generalization, then visual representations can relate to different levels of the psyche: from concrete images of memory to abstract visualized images of thinking. Visual representations are stable and diverse. There are always differences between the ideas of different people - in the degree of brightness, clarity, stability, and completeness of the image. One person's representations may differ in these qualities depending on the modality. A representation is not a mechanical reproduction of what is perceived. This is a changeable dynamic formation, each time under certain conditions created again and determined by the multi-connected relations of subject and object.
Representations are images of memory if the image reproduces what was previously perceived and if the relationship of the image to past experience is realized by the subject. If the idea is formed without regard to what was previously perceived, even using it in a more or less transformed form, then the idea is not an image of memory, but an image of imagination. Representation and imagination are simultaneously both a reproduction - albeit very distant and indirect - and a transformation of reality. These two tendencies - reproduction and transformation, always given in some unity, at the same time diverge from each other due to their opposition. If reproduction is the main characteristic of memory, then transformation is the main characteristic of imagination. The main difference between memory and imagination is its different relationship to reality. Memory images carry and preserve the results of past experience, while imagination images transform them.
On modern stage With the development of scientific and technological progress, the importance of the study of secondary images increases. The ability to act according to ideas, that is, to freely operate with ideas, is considered by psychologists as one of the important qualities necessary for mastering many modern professions. Representations play a particularly important role in different types operator activity.
The methods used in the experimental study of ideas can be divided into two groups: the first includes methods that use data from the subject’s self-assessment and self-observation, and the second includes methods that do not use such data. The methods of the first group can be called subjective, and the methods of the second - objective. When using so-called subjective methods, the subject’s statements about his own ideas (descriptions or General characteristics representations) are considered as a direct reflection of the qualities of the representations themselves. When using so-called objective methods, only objective data obtained in the experiment and recorded by the experimenter are taken into account (verbal answers or drawings of the subject, quantitative results of the experiment, etc.). They are considered as indicators of certain properties of representations. The main difficulties when using subjective methods lie in the subjective nature of the subject’s descriptions and assessments and the impossibility of verifying them on the part of the experimenter. One of the main difficulties in using objective methods is the more or less problematic nature of the supposed connection between the studied properties of representations and the data accepted as their indicators.
An example of subjective methods is the self-ranking method (see lesson 4.1). As an example of objective methods, we give the “Method of the square of letters”. The subject is shown a large square divided into 9, 16 or 25 small ones for a short time

squares, each of which contains a letter. Then the subject is asked to name the letters in different orders: from left to right, from top to bottom, etc. Believing that the completion of such a task requires the presence of a living visual representation, successful completion of it is considered a sign of the visual type of representation.