Simonov psychology. Simonov, Pavel Vasilievich (physiologist). Reflective-evaluative function of emotions

Brain and creativity

The work is devoted to the analysis of the creative state of a person, the formation of a creative dominant and other issues of creative activity.

Neurobiology of Personality

Pavel Vasilievich Simonov, neurophysiologist, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, director of the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, academician-secretary of the Department of Physiology.

Area of ​​scientific interests: neurophysiology and psychophysiology of motivations and emotions.

Need-information theory of emotions

Emotions and perception, emotions and actions, emotions and information - these are the problems that have taken a dominant position in the modern psychophysiology of emotions.

The book by Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences P.V. Simonov and Candidate of Art History P.M. Ershov is devoted to a popular presentation of the natural science foundations of individual human characteristics in the light of I.P. Pavlov’s teachings on higher nervous activity and the achievements of modern psychophysiology.

In a number of chapters, the creative heritage of K. S. Stanislavsky is used, concerning the recreation of the characters of the characters and the principles of acting transformation into the individuality of the portrayed character.

What is an emotion?

The book by Doctor of Medical Sciences P. V. Simonov is devoted to the analysis of the role of emotions in the adaptive behavior of higher animals and humans; it examines the connection between emotional states and needs and the actions taken to satisfy them.

The author presents the data of modern science on the physiological mechanisms of emotional states and develops an original concept about the compensatory significance of emotions in conditions when the body does not have sufficient information to achieve a goal (i.e., satisfy a need). The last two chapters are devoted to the significance of the theory of emotions in art history, pedagogy and medicine.

Simonov Pavel Vasilievich(April 20, 1926, Leningrad - June 6, 2002, Moscow), neurophysiologist and psychophysiologist, academician. RAS (academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences. since 1987), Doctor of Medical Sciences (1961), professor (1969). He graduated from the Military Medical Academy in Leningrad (1951), worked there and in a military clinical hospital. Since 1960 in the Academy of Sciences, since 1962 at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity (director since 1982). Academician secret (since 1988) Department of Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ch. ed. “Journal of Higher Nervous Activity named after I.P. Pavlova" (since 1982). Member of the New York and some other Academy of Sciences, honorary member of the Pavlovsk Scientific Society of the USA State. pr USSR. (1987, in a team) for the creation and development of methods for diagnosing and predicting the state of the human brain

Main scientific interests - neuro- and psychophysiology of motivations and emotions Proposed the need-information theory of emotions (1964), according to which emotion is the brain’s reflection of any current need and the probability of its satisfaction; the subject evaluates this probability involuntarily, comparing - often unconsciously - ideas about the means, time, resources predictably necessary to achieve the goal, with information received at the moment (book “Emotional Brain”, 1981). Along with the “information” system of the brain, a person has a “motivational” system, which establishes a dynamic hierarchy of competing needs. Individual characteristics of the interaction of brain structures form the basis of the types of nervous system (by) and the parameters of extraversion-introversion and neuroticism (by). Violation of this interaction leads to the development of neuroses (book “Motivated Brain”, 1987).

Simonov created a classification of needs in which, along with the triad of basic and primary in origin (vital, social, ideal), a class of additional ones is identified, among which is the need for equipment (mastery of knowledge, skills, abilities) and the need to overcome obstacles on the way to the goal (will ). In the hierarchy of motives in children and adolescents, the need for equipment occupies a dominant position. According to the need-information theory, the task of education is the formation of a certain set and hierarchy of needs, ensuring their harmonious combination in the motivational structure of the individual. Simonov described the phenomenon of emotional resonance, which was discovered in the early stages of the evolution of living nature, which in humans can be developed by education into the ability to sympathize and empathize and into the dominance of the need for activity “for others.” In contrast to training, which addresses mainly the consciousness of the subject, the education of needs occurs mainly at the level of the subconscious and superconscious. According to Simonov, the creative principle in brain activity is represented by the unconscious recombination of experience previously accumulated by consciousness and partly by the subconscious. This reconstruction is stimulated and directed by a dominant need. Consciousness formulates problems for the cognitive mind, selects hypotheses through their logical evaluation and practice. Simonov's theory of emotions became the basis for the development of comprehensive methods for objective control of emotional stress and its impact on human creative and operator activity.

Pavel Vasilievich Simonov(born Stankevich, April 20, 1926, Leningrad - June 6, 2002, Moscow, RSFSR) - Soviet Russian psychophysiologist, biophysicist and psychologist. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1991; academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences since 1987), Doctor of Medical Sciences (1961), professor (1969). Laureate of the USSR State Prize (1987, in a team) for the creation and development of methods for diagnosing and predicting the state of the human brain.

Biography

P. V. Simonov’s father, former officer Stanislav Stankevich, was repressed in 1937. As members of the family of an “enemy of the people,” Pavel and his mother were expelled from Leningrad. The housekeeper, the famous sculptor Vasily Lvovich Simonov, took an active part in the guy’s fate, adopted him and gave him his last name.

In 1944 he entered the flight school. In 1945, for health reasons, he transferred to the Military Medical Academy, from which he graduated in 1951. From the first years of medical practice he began to engage in research work. In 1951-1960 — Researcher, head of the laboratory of the Main Military Hospital named after. M. N. Burdenko. From 1961 to 1962 - senior researcher at the Physiological Laboratory of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

In 1962, he began working under the leadership of E. A. Asratyan at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences as head of the laboratory, then deputy director. Since 1982 - director of this institute.

Professor of the Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University since 1996. He was academician-secretary of the Department of Physiology of the USSR Academy of Sciences, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Higher Nervous Activity named after. I. P. Pavlova” (since 1982), member of the editorial board of the popular science magazine “Science and Life”.

Awarded the title “Emerited Professor of Moscow University” (1999).

He was buried at the Khovanskoye cemetery in Moscow.

Family

• Father: Stanislav Venediktovich Stankevich (1895-1937) - a native or resident of Leningrad, Pole, non-party member, temporary acting head of the food and fodder department of the Leningrad Military District, quartermaster of the 3rd rank (captain). Arrested on October 5, 1937 by a commission of the NKVD and the USSR Prosecutor's Office. November 3, 1937 convicted under Article 58, Part. 6, 7, 10 and 11 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR to capital punishment. Shot in Leningrad on November 12, 1937.
• Mother Maria Karlovna Stankevich.
• Sister Galina Stanislavovna Stankevich lives in Sweden with her family.
• Wife Olga Sergeevna Vyazemskaya, foreign language teacher.
• Children:
  • actress Evgenia Simonova.
  • writer and philosopher Yuri Vyazemsky.

Pavel Vasilyevich Simonov (April 20, 1926, Leningrad - June 6, 2002, Moscow) - Soviet, Russian psychophysiologist, biophysicist and psychologist. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1991; Academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences since 1987), Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor. Laureate of the USSR State Prize for the creation and development of methods for diagnosing and predicting the state of the human brain.

P.V. Simonov's father, former officer Stanislav Stankevich, was repressed in 1937. As members of the family of an “enemy of the people,” Pavel and his mother were expelled from Leningrad. Their neighbor in the house on the landing was the famous sculptor Vasily Lvovich Simonov, who later took an active part in shaping the boy’s fate, adopted him and gave him his last name.

In 1944 he entered the flight school. In 1945, for health reasons, he transferred to the Military Medical Academy, from which he graduated in 1951. Almost from the first years of medical practice he began to engage in research work. In 1951 - 1960 - researcher, head of the laboratory of the Main Military Hospital named after. N. N. Burdenko. From 1961 to 1962 - senior researcher at the Physiological Laboratory of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

In 1962, P. V. Simonov began working under the leadership of E. A. Asratyan at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences as head of the laboratory, then deputy director, and in 1982 became director of this institute.

Professor of the Department of Higher Nervous Activity, Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University since 1996. He was academician-secretary of the Department of Physiology of the USSR Academy of Sciences, editor-in-chief of the Journal of Higher Nervous Activity named after. I. P. Pavlova" (since 1982), member of the editorial board of the popular science magazine "Science and Life".

Children: actress Evgenia Simonova and professor Yuri Simonov-Vyazemsky.

Books (10)

The book by Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences P.V. Simonov and Candidate of Art History P.M. Ershov is devoted to a popular presentation of the natural science foundations of individual human characteristics in the light of I.P. Pavlov’s teachings on higher nervous activity and the achievements of modern psychophysiology.

In a number of chapters, the creative heritage of K. S. Stanislavsky is used, concerning the recreation of the characters of the characters and the principles of acting transformation into the individuality of the portrayed character.

What is an emotion?

The book by Doctor of Medical Sciences P. V. Simonov is devoted to the analysis of the role of emotions in the adaptive behavior of higher animals and humans; it examines the connection between emotional states and needs and the actions taken to satisfy them.

The author presents the data of modern science on the physiological mechanisms of emotional states and develops an original concept about the compensatory significance of emotions in conditions when the body does not have sufficient information to achieve a goal (i.e., satisfy a need). The last two chapters are devoted to the significance of the theory of emotions in art history, pedagogy and medicine.

Emotional Brain

The monograph summarizes neurophysiological, neuroanatomical and psychological aspects of the study of emotions from a unified theoretical perspective.

The basis for this analysis was the results of twenty years of experimental research by the author and his collaborators, which culminated in the creation of a need-information approach to the problem of the genesis of emotions in humans and higher animals, to the role of emotions in the organization of behavior.

Academician Pavel Vasilievich Simonov devoted his entire life to the study of psychophysiology and biophysics. He was an expert in the field of experimental neurophysiology of emotions, and also studied nervous activity and possible problems associated with it. What was his path to global recognition by the scientific community, what did he devote his life to, what works did he leave for his descendants, and where did he work during his scientific career? More on this and more.

Biography of Pavel Vasilievich Simonov

Pavel Vasilyevich was born on April 20, 1926 in Leningrad in the family of repressed (as an “enemy of the people”) officer Stanislav Stankevich. His mother, Maria Karlovna Stankevich, and the boy’s sister Galina were expelled from Leningrad. Such a “shadow” cast on the family did not allow Pavel Simonov to exist in peace for many years. Fortunately, at the new place of residence, the famous sculptor Vasily Lvovich Simonov became a neighbor of Pavel Vasilyevich and his family. He provided great support to little Pavel, adopted him, gave the boy not only his last name, but also made sure that the capable student received a good education. Simonov's sister, Galina Stanislavovna Stankevich, moved to Sweden, where she still lives with her family.

Studies

In 1944, just a year before the end of the war, Pavel Vasilievich Simonov received the opportunity to study at a flight school, but due to poor health he was unable to continue his studies for more than a year. He transferred to the Military Medical Academy. In 1951 he graduated with excellent results.

Personal life

Pavel Vasilyevich Simonov has two children: a daughter - a famous actress; a son - - followed in his father's footsteps and became a professor. The wife of Simonov Sr., Olga Sergeevna Vyazemskaya, worked as a foreign language teacher. The Simonov couple have four adult granddaughters: Anastasia, Zoya, Ksenia and Maria.

Professional activity

Immediately after graduating from the Military Medical Academy, Pavel Vasilyevich began working in the laboratory of the Main Military Hospital named after N. N. Burdenko. He spent 9 years as a researcher and laboratory manager. Then he worked for one year as a senior researcher at the Physiological Laboratory of the USSR Academy of Sciences. In 1962, Simonov became head of a laboratory at the Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. E. A. Asratyan became the manager at the new place of work.

His career quickly took off and soon Pavel Vasilievich Simonov became deputy director and then director at this institute. Since 1991, Simonov has been an Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He has the title: In 1996, he began working at In 1999, he was awarded the title “Emerited Professor of Moscow University.” Simonov was a professor at the department of higher nervous activity. He also worked in the Department of Physiology of the USSR Academy of Sciences.

In addition to writing a large number of books, he shared his knowledge in the “Journal of Higher Nervous Activity named after. I. P. Pavlova", where he held an editorial position. He was a member of the editorial board of the journal “Science and Life,” which is very loved by people close to science and simply interested in it. He also edited the publication of "Classics of Sciences" from the Russian Academy of Sciences. For his scientific developments, he was a member of the International Academy of Astronautics, the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Association of Aviation and Space Medicine and became an honorary member of the Pavlovsk Scientific Society of the USA.

Simonov Pavel Vasilievich

Research work has always attracted Pavel Vasilievich. He began to be passionate about it from the very beginning of his medical practice. The academician paid much attention to the peculiarities of brain behavior. In 1964, he developed the need-information theory of emotions, in which he explained that emotion is a reflection of the actual needs of the brain. He was able to substantiate some of the basic terms of psychology, for example, “will”, “emotions”, “consciousness” and others.

Many scientists note works describing the classification of human needs created by Simonov. The work of Pavel Simonov is also interesting in creating a formula for all the factors that influence the creation of emotion. This truly mathematical approach to the natural human process made the entire Russian scientific community talk about Simonov. For his work in developing diagnostics and the state of the human brain, he received the USSR State Prize. He was also awarded the gold medal named after I.M. Sechenov, received the Order of the Red Banner of Labor, the Badge of Honor, the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 4th degree, and others.

Books

During his life, Pavel Vasilyevich wrote many books, textbooks, and published many scientific works. Not only students, but also teachers, as well as many scientists around the world are grateful to him for his work. Books by Pavel Vasilyevich Simonov are downloaded dozens of times every day and do not lose popularity in specialized departments of bookstores. One of the most famous books written by Simonov is a collection of lectures on the work of the brain. In it, he considered consciousness as knowledge, divided the subconscious and superconscious as two types of the psychic unconscious. This work became a scientific revelation. Before Pavel Vasilievich, no one delved into the study of this topic in such detail and completely.

Simonov showed great interest in the study of human emotions. One of the books he wrote on this topic was the publication “The Method of K. S. Stanislavsky and the Physiology of Emotions.” In it, he revealed the principles of the influence of the cerebral cortex on the manifestation of human emotionality, and he also wrote about the findings of studying the connection between speech and movements of the human body. Then Simonov replenished the department of libraries on general psychology with his publications on the brain. He published several collections of articles devoted to his scientific research on the brain, as well as the differences in the functioning of the brain of creative people, scientists and the average worker.

The works of Pavel Vasilyevich Simonov in the field of studying personality character are also known. Many people note that the book “The Disease of Ignorance,” also authored by Simonov, was very useful to them in their studies.

last years of life

The great academician Pavel Simonov passed away on June 6, 2002. He died in Moscow, where he lived all his life. The scientist was buried at the Khovanskoye cemetery in the capital of Russia.

Together with Pavel Vasilyevich, an entire era of Soviet and Russian science passed away. But it must be said that he left a huge mark on the history of neuro- and psychophysiology. His works, books, and collections of lectures are still used today: students continue to write their theses on them, and scientists continue to write doctoral dissertations on them. His name is often remembered at conferences, and at Moscow State University, where Simonov worked for many years, their honored professor is remembered every year.