The paper analyzes the emergence of the concept of motive in Alexey N. Leontiev’s early writings and its correspondence to Kurt Lewin’s ideas and to the distinction of intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation and the concept of the continuum of regulation in the present day self-determination theory of E. Deci and R. Ryan. The distinctions of extrinsic motivation based on reward and punishment versus “natural teleology” in K. Lewin’s works and of (extrinsic) motive versus interest in early A. N. Leontiev’s texts are explicated. The relationships between motive, goal, and personal meaning in the structure of activity regulation are analyzed. The author introduces the concept of quality of motivation referring to the degree of correspondence between motivation and one’s needs and authentic Self at large; the complementarity of activity theory approach and self-determination theory as regards the quality of motivation issue is highlighted.
The article discusses the possibilities of use of the most important categories and principles of the cultural activity approach in the field of health psychology. Biological and psychological understanding of health is compared in it. Besides, modern scientific definition of human health is given. Main methodological approaches to the study of person’s health are considered too. On the bases of Vygotsky’s ideas the view of health as a higher mental function (HMF) is proposed and substantiated. The contents of the concept of HMF, its connection with traditional system and level approaches are revealed. Understanding of health as HMF is compared with existing directions based on Vygotsky’s and cultural historical ideas in the field of health psychology and in clinical psychology of physicality in particular. The final part of the article is devoted to issues of occupational health. The connection of the structure, development and individual style of activity and occupational health, issues of improvement health motivation are investigated with view of activity approach. The methodological potential of the concept of health as HMF and activity approach ideas to health psychology and psychological science in general is emphasized.
Process of generation of activity with allocation of problems which it is possible to correlate with concepts need, motive, motivation, prompting to activity is analyzed. Affirms, that generation of activity assumes presence at the subject of the behavioral problem arising at actualization of needs, at acceptance by the person of requirements of a society or under the decision of the person. The motivation is understood as mental maintenance for the process of activity generation.
Th is article discusses the fundamental principles of qualitative research:
contextual sensitivity, understanding, interpretative reconstruction and refl exivity.
Th e principle of contextual sensitivity focuses on qualitative research study of
the phenomenon in its socio-cultural and dialogical setting, and the principle of
understanding — the study of subjective values and meaning in the positions of
the various groups. Th e principles of interpretation of refl exivity give an answer to the question about the methodological tool for qualitative research — how
to connect data and formulated analytical synthesis, validity assessment which
involves tracking and monitoring impact of refl exive attitudes of the researcher.
Th ese principles are formulated on the basis of theoretical analysis and practical
experience with qualitative methods and prove the relevancy of combining them
into a single methodological approach that is implemented in various directions
and strategies of qualitative data analysis. Th e authors emphasize conceptual unity
of qualitative research and the underlying common methodology.
This article is the study of manual motor activity (his spatial and dynamic
organization, interhemispheric transfer and coordination). The study of 58 children
(healthy and with the Down syndrome), demonstrate the genesis of cerebral
asymmetry and interhemispheric coordination, and the grave disturbances of these
functions in dysontogenesis.
