Abstract
The topic of subjectivity has been historically overlooked by a psychology mainly grounded on rationalism and empiricism. In fact, subjectivity as such was also absent in Soviet psychology, mainly as a result of the prevailing political and ideological climate in the Soviet sciences, which left no room for the matter of subjectivity. Nonetheless, in Soviet psychology, there were important theoretical antecedents for advancing a theory of subjectivity on a cultural–historical basis. This introductory chapter draws a picture based on important premises to advance the topic of subjectivity in Soviet psychology; new relations between authors and classic topics of Soviet psychology are constructed, along with new interpretations of historical aspects, through which the topic of subjectivity appeared as one possible path in the development of the legacy of Soviet psychology. The introduction of subjectivity into cultural–historical psychology is an attempt to transcend the individual character and ontological vagueness of the two concepts used by Soviet psychology to refer to psychological systems: consciousness and personality. Nonetheless, this path in the advancement of the topic of subjectivity has also been enriched by dialogue with other theories, which has influenced its comprehension as an ontological definition of human phenomena, whether social or individual. The transit of this proposal on subjectivity through dialogue with Latin American critical social psychology, Social Representation theory, and lately, some critical authors from different theoretical backgrounds, is also discussed in this chapter.
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Notes
- 1.
For more information on the shift that occurred at that time within Soviet psychology, see González Rey (2016a).
- 2.
The reference to a behavioral psychology is not restricted here to behaviorism; in fact, behavioral psychologies include all those in which behavior represents their ontological definition.
- 3.
In fact, any human theory only generates forms of intelligibility on its subjects` questions, which contacts with the study matter are temporarily defined by the new practices, knowledge, and realities that are advanced on the basis of that theory. Nonetheless, theory is never a copy or a reflection of reality, which implies the impossibility of detaching fiction from it.
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González Rey, F., Mitjáns Martínez, A., Goulart, D.M. (2019). The Topic of Subjectivity Within Cultural–Historical Approach: Where It Has Advanced from and Where It Is Advancing to. In: González Rey, F., Mitjáns Martínez, A., Magalhães Goulart, D. (eds) Subjectivity within Cultural-Historical Approach. Perspectives in Cultural-Historical Research, vol 5. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3155-8_1
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