On Amplification of Mental Development in the New Issue of the Journal "Cultural-Historical Psychology"

A new issue of the journal “Cultural-Historical Psychology” (2022. No. 1.) has been published. The topic of the issue is “Age perspective in amplification optics”. Thematic editor –V.T. Kudryavtsev.

The concept of “amplification of mental development” was introduced by A.V. Zaporozhets in his recent works. The term “amplification” is borrowed from European languages ​​– English and French – and literally means "increase". In different meanings, it is used in a number of natural and human sciences – from genetics to linguistics. A.V. Zaporozhets wrote about amplification as the enrichment of mental development of a preschool child, expansion of his genetic perspective – the zone of proximal and more distant development by means of “specifically children's activities.” The opposite of amplification Zaporozhets considered simplification – easing of the content and forms of child development, which manifests itself, for example, in forcing its pace, artificial acceleration. The motive for introducing the concept of amplification by A.V. Zaporozhets is also associated with the need for an age-related approach to the study and development of activities in ontogeny (A.N. Leontiev, V.V. Davydov). Zaporozhets declares the necessity to realize the potential of the entire ensemble of children's activities at a certain age stage. It should be noted that activities undergo historical changes, and in the 21st century new types of activities arise that characterize the social and psychological profile of a modern person. Today, this challenges the activity approach to development. The concept of “amplification”, which makes it possible to reveal how historical restrictions on human development are removed in the ontogenetic perspective, is applicable not only to pre-school age. The authors of the thematic unfold a wide panorama of forms of amplification of development – from infancy to senility.

While working on the issue, we suffered a heavy loss. On March 4, 2022, the outstanding, world-famous neuropsychologist Zhanna Markovna Glozman left this world. She was the author of a life-affirming article on active senility, which is available in the journal (co-authored with V.A. Naumova). We really hoped that Zhanna Markovna would see the article published. But what happened, that happened. We would like to dedicate this issue to the memory of a remarkable scientist and person, an ascetic of psychological assistance to people – children and adults.