The Relationship Between Psychology and Physiology

Abstract

Excerpted from Filosofskie problemy v sovetskoy psikhologii [ Philosophical problems in Soviet psychology]. Moscow: Nauka, 1972. Pp. 237-245 E. A. Budilova THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGYA major theoretical problem for Soviety psychophysiologists, many of whom base their work on Pavlovian research and theory, is the integration of Pavlovian doctrine into contemporary knowledge from neurophysiology and the burgeoning theoretical work on cybernetics. Neither modern electrophysiological techniques nor cybernetic ideas were available to Pavlov.Budilova considers this problem and the larger one of incorporating Pavlovian theory into (or at least reconciling i t with) other developments in psychology. The rich opportunity for differences of opinion this enterprise provides is amply clear, both from this excerpt and from the articles by Asratyan and Voronin presented later in this issue.. . . In the historical development of Soviet psychology, the forging of a n alliance with Pavlovian physiology was by no means simple and direct. A number of factors contributed t o this alliance, the most decisive of which were the development of psychological theory itself and the solution of some of the philosophical problems posed by psychology. Hence the first overtures of psychology to Pavlovian theory in the '20s brought about no notable changes, either theoretically or practically, in experimental psychological research.