Psychological theory of activity

The psychological theory of activity, proposed by the outstanding Soviet psychologist AN Leontiev, considers the psychological and physical activity of a person within the framework of a society that directs and determines its development.

The subject of studying the theory is activity in the broad sense of the word, i.e. Active interaction of the subject with the environment. Due to this interaction, the subject changes the external (objective) or inner world. It is also worth noting that the main or initial type of activity is external, which through socially conditioned processes eventually transforms into a so-called internal plan .

The theory of activity has a number of basic concepts that also help to reveal its essence.

Any human activity has a complex multi-layered structure, which means that it can be divided into several levels. Conditionally one of the first is called the level of action. Actions are understood as those individual and specific processes that are aimed at achieving a specific goal. Among other things, this is the functional unit of any activity. Under the goal it is customary to understand that final conscious image, for which, in fact, this particular action was started. It is important to note that the theory of activity understands the action as a fully conscious process. This is not spontaneous movement or automatism. Because it is continuously connected to a goal that is always held in consciousness, action within the framework of this approach is the unity of the physical manifestation of activity and consciousness.

It consists of elementary units - operations or ways of performing an action. The operations are based on skills. The difference between them is that they are not realized, that is, they are committed automatically (while the action always has a conscious purpose). Finally, the lowest level is the psychophysiological features of our body, responsible for the success / failure, the speed and quality of the operations.

We examined the mechanism for implementing actions. However, the theory of activity offers a different classification, which reveals the activity itself in terms of motivation and purpose.

The basic concept here is need - a certain necessity, which is the cause of tension in the body, which must be satisfied. If the person's experience tells him how the tension can be reduced, that is, he knows and seeks a particular object of its satisfaction, the search activity is reinforced by the motive.

Based on the fact that a person constantly does some kind of activity, the psychological theory of activity distinguishes those that are peculiar to the individual during different periods of his life.

1. Subject-manipulative. It is characteristic of infants and small children. Kids learn the features of objects, their properties and actions, which can be done with them

2. The game. Children learn to interact with each other, create group rules, adhere to them. Within the framework of the scenario, the game concept is developed.

3. Educational activity. It is characteristic of schoolchildren and is aimed at learning new information, enriching knowledge.

4. Close communication. It is typical for teenagers who want to establish a social bond, try to be "in a group", become part of something bigger, be accepted and understood in their environment.

5. Labor activity is peculiar to adults. As the name implies, it is aimed at the formation of man in work and work.

On the basis of the theory of AN Leontiev, the theory of educational activity that is no less outstanding by the scientists DB El'konin and VV Davydov has been created, within the framework of which the psychological influence of studies on the child and changes occurring under its influence is studied.