Means Problem in Cultural-Historical Theory

The article presents a dialectical analysis of psychological means as one of the problems within cultural-historical psychology. The author raises the question of what properties psychological means must have in order to serve as a tool for influencing the actor's behavior. As means are considered those presented in L.Vygotsky's works: sign, symbol, visual diagram, concept of opposition. This study offers a solution to a number of theoretical problems: it gives a description of the primary and ideal forms’ structure as well as explains the possibility of their interaction (including in the process of mediation). The key properties of symbolic means are determined: the presence of material and ideal components, as well as experiences that presuppose the unity of affect and intellect. These qualities allow the sign to mediate the interaction of the primary and ideal form. The product of sign mediation is the formation of higher psychological functions in the child. The hypothesis is substantiated that it is advisable to consider relations of opposition as cultural means, and their mastering is necessary for the dialectical thinking formation as the highest psychological function. The study shows that one of the fundamental properties of opposite relations is their two-level nature. This property is demonstrated in the use of opposites in cycles as it involves a transition from content analysis to structure analysis and back. The theoretical research carried out is aimed at developing the cultural-historical concept, including the problem of psychological means. The work done has practical significance, because it provides a detailed description of the means’ transformations that arise in the process of social interaction between an adult and a child.

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