Creative Person. A.N. Leontiev and Russian Psychology

Background. The study of the contribution of Alexei Nikolaevich Leontiev to the development of Russian psychological science makes it possible to evaluate his outstanding personal qualities, organizational skills, and the talent of a scientist and researcher.
Objective. The study is aimed to analyze the role of A.N. Leontiev in the development of Russian psychology as a field of independent scientific knowledge.
Methods. The material was obtained in the study of memories on the life and work of A.N. Leontiev. The analysis of theoretical and methodological research on the problems of psychological science was also conducted.
Results. The analysis showed that A.N. Leontiev is one of the few psychologists who took responsibility for the development of psychological science in the USSR. This was reflected in the systematic and fundamental organizational activity, in the creation of psychological faculties, scientific journals, training of personnel for psychological institutions. A.N. Leontiev played a significant role in the rapprochement of Soviet and foreign psychology, acquaintance of Soviet psychologists with the research of psychologists abroad. At the same time, A.N. Leontiev managed to make a significant contribution to the solution of theoretical and methodological issues of world psychology. It is asserted that the achievements of A.N. Leontiev in the areas of organizational, scientific, research activities are explained by a combination of personal qualities of a scientist associated with the ability to think strategically, see a systematic solution to problems, and take responsibility.
Conclusion. The most significant achievements of A.N. Leontiev are associated with institutionalizing psychology, training psychological personnel, solving fundamental theoretical and methodological problems of Soviet psychology. Despite the vast research on the personality and activity of A.N. Leontiev within Russian psychological science, the task of archival work with sources and materials remains of great importance. There is an urge for broad generalization of the results in the life and creative paths of the scientist, for the spread of materials about A.N. Leontiev among modern young psychologists.

References

A.N. Leontiev and Modern Psychology (Collection of articles in memory of A.N. Leontiev) (1983). In A.V. Zaporozhetc, V.P. Zinchenko, O.V. Ovchinnikova, O.K. Tihomirov (Eds.), Moscow: Izd-vo Mosk. un-ta. (In Russ.).
Leont`ev, A.A., Leont`ev, D.A., Sokolova, E.E. (2005). Alexei Nikolaevich Leontiev. Activity, Consciousness, Personality. Moscow: Smysl. (In Russ.).
Leont`ev, A.N. (1975). Activity. Consciousness. Personality. Moscow: Politizdat. (In Russ.).
Leont`ev, D.A. (2003). He Had Something to Keep Silent About, and He Probably Kept Silent about a Lot in His Life. Psikhologiya v vuze (Psychology at the University), 1 (2), 180–198. (In Russ.).
Mazilov, V.A. (2017) Psychology: a Look into the Future. Psikhologicheskii zhurnal (Psychological journal), 5 (38), 97–102. (In Russ.).
Mazilov, V.A. (2018). Psychology in the Age of Globalization: Finding Your Own Path. Psikhologicheskii zhurnal (Psychological journal), 6 (39), 149–153. (In Russ.). 
Mazilov, V.A. (2020). Biosocial Problem in the Context of the Methodology of Psychological Science. Psikhologicheskii zhurnal (Psychological Journal), 3 (41), 122–130. (In Russ.).
Ovchinnikova, O.V. (2003). We ame to the faculty as if it were our own home. it was just a big family. Journal of Practical Psychologist, 1(2), 31–56. (In Russ.).
Petrenko, V.F. (2003). Psychology was life for him. Zhurnal prakticheskogo psikhologa (Journal of Practical Psychologist), 1 (2), 78–93. (In Russ.). Psychological Activity Theory: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (2006). Moscow: Smysl. (In Russ.).
Ravich-Shcherbo, I.V. (2003). Obviously, It Is Time to Return to the Theory of Activity. Psikhologiya v vuze (Psychology at the University), 1–2, 40–59. (In Russ.).
Rubinshtei`n, S.L. (1973). Problems of Psychology in the Writings of Karl Marx. In Rubinshtei`n, S.L. Problems of General Psychology, (pp. 19–46). Moscow: Pedagogika. (In Russ.).
Rubinshtei`n, S.L. (1935). Fundamentals of Psychology. Moscow: Gos. uch.-ped. izd.-vo. (In Russ.).
Rubinshtei`n, S.L. (1940). Fundamentals of General Psychology. Moscow: Uchpedgiz. (In Russ.).
Sokolova, E.E. (2021). Stanovlenie i puti razvitiia psihologii deiatel`nosti (shkola A.N. Leont`eva): diss. ... dokt. psihol. nauk. (Formation and ways of development of the psychology of activity (school of A.N. Leontiev): dissertation). Moscow. (In Russ.).
Stolin, V.V. (2003). The more fundamental research, the faster it finds its way into practice. Psihologiia v vuze (Psychology at the University), 1–2, 121–132. (In Russ.).
Taly`zina, N.F., Zagriazhskaia, E.A., Iakovleva, A.A. (2003). The activity approach has not yet been implemented ... we need to build the psychology of actions. Zhurnal prakticheskogo psikhologa (Journal of Practical Psychologist), 1 (2), 6–30. (In Russ.).
Velichkovskii`, B.M. (2003). Only following the elementary principles of scientific thinking will return everything to some normal track. Psikhologiya v vuze (Psychology at the University), 1(2), 132–161. (In Russ.).
Zhdan, A.N., Ivannikov, V.A. (2018). Alexei Nikolaevich Leontiev — Organizer And First Dean of the Faculty of Psychology (1966–1979). Faculty of Psychology, Lomonosov Moscow State University: On the Occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding (1966–2016). Moscow: Izd-vo Mosk. un-ta. (In Russ).
Zhuravlev, A.L., Mironenko, I.A., Iurevich, A.V. (2018). Psychological Science in the Global World: Challenges and Prospects. Psikhologicheskii zhurnal (Psychological Journal), 2, 57–70. (In Russ.).
Zhuravlev, A.L., Stoiuhina, N.Iu. (2022). Meeting on Psychology in 1952 (on the Occasion of the 70th Anniversary). Psychological Journal, 5 (43), 71–80. (In Russ.).
Zinchenko, V.P. (2003). Yes, a very controversial figure … Zhurnal prakticheskogo psikhologa (Journal of Practical Psychologist), 1–2, 162–179. (In Russ.).
Zinchenko, V.P. (2011). A word about Sergei Leonidovich Rubinstein. Stil` my`shleniia: problema istoricheskogo edinstva nauchnogo znaniia. K 80-letiiu Vladimira Petrovicha Zinchenko (Thinking style: the problem of the historical unity of scientific knowledge. To the 80th anniversary of Vladimir Petrovich Zinchenko). Moscow: ROSSPEN, 285–293. (In Russ.).
Zinchenko, V.P. (2011). A.A. Ukhtomsky and psychology. Stil` my`shleniia: problema istoricheskogo edinstva nauchnogo znaniia. K 80-letiiu Vladimira Petrovicha Zinchenko (Thinking style: the problem of the historical unity of scientific knowledge. To the 80th anniversary of Vladimir Petrovich Zinchenko). Moscow: ROSSPEN, 230–271. (In Russ.).