G.I. Chelpanov and L.S. Vygotsky in Formation of the Psychological Institute’s Scientific Tradition: A Look from Both Sides

PII

S3034588X26010092-1

DOI

10.7868/S3034588X26010092

Publication Type

Article

Status

Published

Authors

Olga Artem’evа

Occupation: ScD (Psychology), Professor, Chair of General Psychology
Affiliation: Irkutsk State University

Volume/ Edition

Volume 47 / Issue number 1

Pages

92-102

Abstract

Reconstruction of the continuity of the contribution to the formation of the scientific tradition of the Psychological Institute is important for a critical understanding of the history of the Soviet psychology’s formation. In order to characterize the historiography of the formation of the institute scientific tradition under the leadership of G.I. Chelpanov and L.S. Vygotsky conducted a comparative analysis of specialized monographs published by Russian, American and European historians of psychology. It is revealed that Western authors note the role of G.I. Chelpanov both in creating the organizational base of psychological education and experimental work, and in providing conditions for comprehensive research, the coexistence of different approaches and laboratories in the structure of the institute. Already in the 1950s in American historiography there was an idea about the development of the problem of consciousness by L.S. Vygotsky’s as a return, at a new level, to ideas rejected during the criticism of G.I. Chelpanov’s position. And in the 1980s, the tradition of openness to different research strategies, laid down by G.I Chelpanov, was defined as a condition for the development of L.S. Vygotsky’s system of views. In Soviet historiography, the scientific position of G.I. Chelpanov was criticized as “idealistic”, his scientific tradition was not analyzed, and even his organizational efforts began to be recognized only in the last third of the century. The results of the analysis allow us to enrich Russian historiography with an idea of the role of G.I. Chelpanov in the formation of the scientific tradition of the Psychological Institute in its object interpretation. For the productive research work of the next generation of employees, including under the leadership of L.S. Vygotsky, it was important to have and own such objects of the scientific tradition laid down by G.I. Chelpanov as the organizational structure, material and technical base, personnel, and such methodological principles of scientific activity as orientation to the experimental method of studying mental processes, solving the problem of consciousness and openness to the development of various scientific approaches.

Keywords

история психологии историография советской психологии американская историография советской психологии научные традиции преемственность Г.И. Челпанов Л.С. Выготский Психологический институт

Date of publication

06.06.2026

Date of Year of publication

2026

Number of purchasers

Views

References

Reference

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