Imagination as a mental cognitive process. General characteristics of imagination as a mental process

Imagination is a mental cognitive process aimed at modeling a new image or idea. Imagination is strongly connected with other processes: memory, thinking, speech and attention. After all, in order to clearly imagine something, you need to have complete information about the subject of interest, be able to analyze and compare.

In everyday life, we often resort to the need to imagine something in our head. Say, abstract concepts or artistic images, one way or another, need to imagine them, so they are easier to remember. Imagination helps to make the inner world of a person brighter and richer. This process allows the individual to predict some situation in time, build the available prospects and internally prepare for the consequences of his choice. Sometimes people with an extremely developed imagination suffer from the fact that they begin to create images that have nothing to do with reality, thereby misleading themselves and others. The imagination of a person helps creative people to create unique author's works. The essence of it as a process is to construct new images from the existing ones - unique and inimitable.

Types of imagination

In modern psychological science, it is customary to distinguish between voluntary (deliberate) imagination and involuntary. In the second case, the process itself manifests itself in the dreams that a person sees. That is, the events and experiences experienced during the day are transformed into individual images that the person continues to “scroll” in a dream.

Deliberate imagination is activated only with the participation of the human will and includes several subspecies: recreative, creative, dream. Recreating imagination works on the basis of existing ideas about a particular subject. So, when reading fiction, we unconsciously build abstract pictures in our heads, supplement them with our own ideas, meanings and meanings. It often turns out that the same work gives rise to different (and even opposite) images in people.

creative imagination is formed by transforming existing ideas about the world into unique structures. The creative process gives birth to a new product, which necessarily reflects the individual vision of the world of its creator. A special kind of imagination is dream. This type of imagination is different in that it always creates an image of what is desired, there is no particular focus on the result in order to get it here and now. The aspiration to the future and the ephemeral nature of the emerging image sometimes leads to a departure from reality, to a stay in the world of dreams and fantasies. If a person makes active plans for the realization of his plans, then the dream turns into a goal, which is much easier to translate into reality.

Imagination functions

Imagination as a mental cognitive process performs the main task of reflecting objective reality. The human brain is able to fully perceive information only when it is truly interesting to it. Among the main functions, it is customary to single out the following:

• Goal setting and planning. Before taking on any business, a person needs to imagine its final result. In some cases, the success of an enterprise depends on the ability to predict and build a sequence of steps. Imagination here acts as a link between the desired goal and the final product of the activity. In this case, it is specific, has nothing to do with fantasies. A dream can lead a person to new achievements, but only if he is ready to act, to take practical steps in the desired direction.
• cognitive function. No activity is possible without constant work on oneself. Whatever a person is busy with, for successful development, he always needs productive activity. The need to learn new things, improve their skills and abilities leads to the process of activation of cognitive activity.
• adaptive function. This function consists in the need to explain incomprehensible phenomena to oneself. So in ancient times, people created legends and fairy tales, using their imagination to minimize their own fear of the unknown.
• psychotherapeutic function. Imagination can be successfully used by a person as a psychological defense, when he "invents" non-existent realities in such a way that they correspond to his inner readiness to perceive the world around him. The therapeutic orientation finds expression in sublimated images, designation and recognition of one's own feelings.

Forms of imagination

• Agglutination. It is a kind of fusion of images of various properties of objects. All mythical creatures are based on this technique: centaur, mermaid, etc. Agglutination appears as a result of a combination of individual characteristics and the formation of a mixed image.
• Accent. It manifests itself in deliberate exaggeration, focusing on any particular feature of a literary or mythical character. For example, a boy with a finger was so tiny that the growth could be compared with the little finger.
• Hyperbole. Enlargement or reduction of an object to the maximum size by the imagination, thereby achieving the effect of absurdity. Hyperbolization often emphasizes the nature of a character, forcing the reader to build their own assumptions about why this happened.
• Typing. Even the most creative image is created according to a certain type. Schematization facilitates the process of creating a picture of an object with the imagination and simplifies its perception. Essential features are taken as a basis, and a holistic image is built on their essence.
• Schematization. It helps to build a new image based on the existing ideas of a particular subject. The general scheme is built by highlighting similar features and transferring them to other objects.
• Aggravation. It consists in deliberately emphasizing individual features of objects.
• Transfer of signs. It can manifest itself in the creation of non-existent objects, mythical and fantastic creatures, inanimate objects and endowing them with signs of the living.
• Imagination tricks influence the modeling of individual reality, the creation of high-quality images that did not previously exist. The whole effect is achieved with the help of imagination.

Features of the imagination

Through this mental process, each individual has a unique opportunity to create and model their own reality. Particularly significant needs, such as self-realization and personal growth, are directly reflected through the imagination. So, for example, the artist is able to display in the work those issues that most concern him, thereby reducing the number of his own experiences about this. Imagination is a great aid to the process of sublimation. The role of imagination in any kind of activity is extremely high.

Development of the imagination

Imagination as a process that helps to cognize the world around us can and should be improved. To solve this problem, special exercises and classes aimed at its development are the best suited. It must be said that imagination cannot be developed separately from attention, memory and thinking. That is why the tasks presented below contribute to a noticeable progress of all cognitive processes, the leading of which is imagination.

• Forecasting the future situation. The development of imagination begins with the formation of the skill to clearly imagine an object or phenomenon. Before embarking on any business, try to think in advance what will come of it. Answer yourself the question of what you want to get as a result, what you see as the ultimate goal. It has been proven that the ability to imagine, think constructively in the direction of a given goal forms self-confidence, gives additional strength, adds determination, and reduces doubts.
• Creation of an artistic image. Suitable for writing a fairy tale, a story, creating a portrait or landscape. This can include embroidery, the main thing is that you like the process itself. First, build an image in your head that you want to portray. Try to make it bright, eye-catching, helping to reveal your aspirations and talents. It is not necessary to create "War and Peace", you can limit yourself to a small poem or sketch, the main condition is that creativity should inspire new ideas. It is good if fresh images and ideas begin to appear in the process of imagination. The exercise is aimed at developing the ability to develop the image, to allow it to reveal itself in its entirety and diversity.
• Figure drawing. The exercise consists in the formation of the skill to create a picture in the imagination from nothing, perfectly trains attention to detail, teaches you to understand that a new image can be modeled from the most insignificant details. In the center on a sheet of paper, as a rule, a fragment of the figure that needs to be completed is shown. If you distribute such sheets to members of a small group and ask them to complete the task, each will end up with their own unique drawing. The process of imagination for each person works purely individually.
• "I am a successful person." If you have been dreaming of self-realization for a long time, then doing this exercise will bring you great joy and a tremendous boost of energy. Imagine what you need in order to consider yourself an accomplished person. The main task is to realize as concretely as possible and keep in mind the activity that brings maximum satisfaction, helps to develop your personality. When this image is found, continue to imagine a picture of ideal success in your imagination, note what events should happen in the future. The exercise is unique in that it allows not only to train the imagination, but also aims a person at a positive result, helps to develop faith in one's own strengths and capabilities.

These imagination exercises contribute to the formation of an individual vision of life, building prospects for personal and professional advancement. Tasks can be completed every day, they are suitable for representatives of any profession and rank. Of course, it will be much easier to perform them for creative people related to painting, literature, music, design, etc.

Thus, the role of imagination in human life is extremely significant and deep. After all, each of us in any activity needs to possess abstract thinking, to be able to imagine the desired effect. Try to read more books, participate in the cultural and social life of the city, constantly improve your potential. A developed imagination is an integral part of a successful personality.

Introduction

The role of imagination in human life has been given special attention since ancient times. Interest in this mental process is great to this day. After all, imagination has a huge social significance. The ability to create something new and unusual gives people the opportunity to expand their knowledge about the world, about human relationships. All this would be impossible without imagination.

At present, the role of the imagination is generally recognized. It participates in the transformation of existing ideas and concepts, expands the scope of knowledge, contributes to the development of thinking, education of the emotional sphere, and has a significant impact on the formation of personality.

Any human activity is connected with the imagination, since it is impossible to engage in labor without imagining its current and final result. In the absence of imagination, there would be no science, art, technology, and cultural life in general.

The process of imagination allows you to make decisions and find a way out of a problem situation even in the absence of the necessary completeness of knowledge. In other words, if a person has not encountered anything in his own experience, then this does not prevent him from imagining and creating images, thereby using and developing creative thinking. In creativity, the specificity of a person’s personality, his emotions, feelings, attitude to the world around him is manifested.

S.L. Rubinstein speaks of the value of imagination, which, according to him, lies in the fact that people not only contemplate and cognize, but also change the world, transforming it. In order to transform reality in practice, one must be able to transform it mentally as well. This need is satisfied by the imagination. Imagination is inextricably linked to our ability to change the world, effectively transform reality and create something new.

Despite the fact that the mental processes with which imagination is associated (perception, memory, thinking, etc.) and what significance they have in human life are well studied, we still do not know the mechanisms and essence of imagination.

This circumstance prompted many researchers to study imagination in general psychology: L.S. Vygotsky, S.L. Rubinstein, R.S. Nemov, A.V. Petrovsky, M.G. Yaroshevsky, A.G. Maklakov, V.V. Davydov, M.V. Gamezo, I.A. Domashenko, V.A. Sitarov, D.N. Uznadze and others. Also, the following scientists considered this problem separately in special psychology and pedagogy: K. Byurklen, P. Willey, L.S. Vygotsky, A.G. Litvak, V.M. Sorokin, O.V. Borovik, G.V. Nikulina, V.P. Ermakov, G.A. Yakunin and others.

Obviously, the importance of imagination in the mental development of a person is great. It must be said that in general psychology the most important aspects of the problem of imagination have been studied very deeply and in many ways. Specialists in the field of tiflopsychology have studied this problem in relation to the blind and visually impaired much less fully than did general psychology in relation to normally seeing. Meanwhile, the role of imagination in the lives of people with visual impairments is especially great.

In view of this, I had a desire to generalize the already existing knowledge about the imagination in order to better understand the essence of this process, expand my understanding in this area, and also understand the question of what role imagination plays in the life of people with profound visual impairments.

1. The study of imagination in general psychology

.1 The concept of imagination. Physiological bases of imagination. Approaches to the Study of Imagination

Speaking about the concept of imagination, it must be said that it has an inseparable connection with such mental processes as perception, memory and thinking. But it differs significantly from them. And, taking into account the statement of L.S. Vygotsky regarding the difference between imagination and other forms of mental activity, it is important to note that imagination does not repeat in the same combinations and forms individual impressions that have been accumulated before, but builds new rows from previously accumulated impressions. In other words, bringing something new into the very course of our impressions and changing these impressions so that as a result a new, previously non-existent image arises, is, as you know, the very basis of the activity that we call imagination.

According to V.A. Sitarov, imagination consists in a mental retreat beyond the boundaries of the directly perceived, contributes to the anticipation of events, refreshes the experience gained in the past and already available information in a new context of cognition.

Imagination reflects the subjective world of a person, his vision of the world around him. The work of the imagination is especially relevant in situations where there is not enough information to carry out mental operations, then with the help of imagination we find solutions and a way out of the current situation, by predicting the intermediate and final results of our activities.

V.A. Sitarov gives it the following definition:

Imagination is a mental process of creating images of objects, products of activity, circumstances by bringing the knowledge available to a person into a new combination in the conditions of uncertainty of the current problem situation.

M.V. Gamezo offers a similar definition of imagination based on comparisons with other mental functions:

Imagination (fantasy) is a mental process that consists in creating new images based on the data of past experience. This is the ability to imagine an absent or really existing object, keep it in the mind and mentally manipulate it. Imagination reflects the real world, but in new, unusual, unexpected combinations and connections. It differs from figurative memory (representation), since it is a fundamentally new image, dynamic, and the act of memorization and preservation is absent. Imagination differs from thinking, as it proceeds in a figurative form, and thinking in concepts. It is associated with thinking, as it arises in a problem situation and represents the analytical and synthetic activity of the brain (old objects are divided into parts and combined into a new image, for example, a “mermaid”).

Similar judgments about the concept and essence of imagination were put forward by: S.L. Rubinshtein, R.S. Nemov, A.G. Maklakov, A.V. Petrovsky, M.G. Yaroshevsky, E.I. Nikolaev, V.P. Ermakov, G.A. Yakunin, A.G. Litvak and other researchers).

Further, speaking about the physiological aspect of imagination, I would like to give an example that L.S. Vygotsky. Speaking about the work of the cerebral cortex, L.S. Vygotsky compares the work of the brain to a track left by a wheel on the ground, which subsequently facilitates movement. The essence of this example is that the brain, by preserving our previous experience, facilitates the reproduction of this experience in the future. But if the work of the brain consisted only in reproducing information, a person would not be able to adapt to constantly changing conditions.

In view of this, L.S. Vygotsky singles out the following function - combining or creative.

The combining activity of the brain is based on the preservation in the brain of traces of previous excitations, but the essence of this function lies in the fact that, having traces of excitations, the brain combines them into new combinations that have not been encountered in its actual experience.

Such human activity, based not only on the reproduction of his previous experience, but also on the creation of something new, is called creative.

This creative activity based on the combining ability of our brain is called imagination or fantasy.

Considering this issue, A.G. Maklakov connects the process of imagination with the regulation of the organic processes of the body and movement. Due to the fact that the physiological mechanisms of imagination are associated not only with the cortex, but also with deeper structures of the brain. In particular, the hypothalamic-limbic system plays an important role here.

Further, A.G. Maklakov notes that imagination affects many organic processes: the functioning of the glands, the activity of internal organs, the metabolism in the body, etc. For example, the idea of ​​a delicious dinner causes profuse salivation, and instilling in a person the idea of ​​a burn, you can cause real signs of a “burn” on the skin. On the other hand, the imagination also affects the motor functions of a person. For example, it is worth imagining that we are running along the track of the stadium during the competition, as the devices will register barely noticeable contractions of the corresponding muscle groups.

Thus, we can conclude that the brain as a whole has a regulatory effect on all organs of the human body. In turn, imagination, like other mental processes, has a significant impact on the work of many systems of the human body. This means that imagination plays a huge role in shaping the personality and life of a person as a whole.

In his essay, L.S. Vygotsky identifies several forms of connection between imagination and reality, which, in his opinion, will help to better understand the mechanism of imagination and its connection with creative activity.

First, the imagination is based on the previous experience of a person, consisting of images of reality.

Further L.S. Vygotsky formulates the first and, in his words, the most important law that the creative activity of the imagination depends on the richness and diversity of a person's past experience, which is the material from which fantasy constructions are created. Therefore, the richer the experience of a person, the wider the material that his imagination has at his disposal.

Secondly, L.S. Vygotsky singles out the highest form of connection between fantasy and reality - the connection between the final product of the imagination and a real phenomenon. This form of communication is possible due to someone else's or social experience. In other words, if no one observed the described phenomenon, then a correct representation would be impossible.

The third form of connection between the activity of the imagination and reality, which the author highlights, is an emotional connection. The essence of this connection lies in the fact that images and impressions that have a common emotional coloring are combined, even if they do not have similarities. In this case, feelings affect imagination, but there is also a feedback in which imagination affects our emotions. For example, the play of actors, their experiences disturb us and make us think, put ourselves in their place. That is, even if we know that all this is fictional, feelings arise in us that are experienced in reality.

The essence of the fourth form of connection lies in the fact that the product of fantasy can be an object that does not correspond to an object that really exists. Such a product can be created from several elements that, when interacting, form a qualitatively new thing, which, from the moment of its appearance, begins to influence other things in the surrounding world.

Linking these four forms, we can conclude that the mechanisms of human creative activity are not only thoughts and feelings, but also their direct connection and interaction.

Summarizing the above, it can be noted that many researchers, studying the imagination, adhere to the provisions presented by L.S. Vygotsky as fundamental. This suggests that L.S. Vygotsky made a colossal contribution to the study of imagination and psychology in general. He examined the imagination and its role in the human psyche in great detail, focusing on all aspects of this function. But research does not stand still, because questions about the mechanisms and physiological foundations of imagination remain not fully understood. Recently, we have learned more about the physiological aspects of imagination, about the structures of the central nervous system with which it is associated. This allows for further research, both in general and special psychology, based on the experience and knowledge provided by scientists in this area.

1.2 Types and functions of the imagination

psychological imagination passive

Types of imagination

In general and special psychology, imagination is divided according to several criteria:

.according to the degree of activity:

Active or arbitrary, which in turn is divided into creative or productive (creation of new images) and recreative or reproductive (creation according to the model).

Passive or involuntary, which is divided into intentional (dreams) and unintentional (dreams, affect).

.by the nature of the image: concrete and abstract.

S.L. Rubinstein, revealing the essence of each type of imagination, says that all types of personality orientation are manifested in the imagination and, thus, give rise to different levels of imagination.

The difference between these levels is determined, first of all, by how consciously and actively the person's attitude to this process is.

With passive imagination, the change of images, which occurs under the influence of little-conscious needs, drives, tendencies, regardless of any conscious intervention of the subject, occurs by itself, involuntarily. The images of the imagination are, as it were, spontaneously transformed, emerging before the imagination, and are not formed by it; there is still no proper operation of images. This form of imagination occurs in drowsy states, in dreams, and in pathological disorders of consciousness (hallucinations). In these cases, the affective moments of needs and drives are usually hidden behind the image as driving forces. This subset of passive imagination is unintentional.

Speaking of passive imagination, it should be noted that deliberate imagination is inherent in people, expressed in images of fantasy, but not associated with volitional action. These images have a connection with interests and needs. Most often they are joyful and pleasant. Such forms of passive imagination are called daydreams.

It should be noted that the predominance of dreams in the mental life of a person can lead him to a separation from reality, to escape into a fictional world, which, in turn, begins to slow down the mental and social development of this person.,

And with active imagination, a conscious, active attitude of a person to the formation and transformation of images plays an increasingly important role. In accordance with the goals set by the conscious creative activity of man. The basis of such work of the imagination is the ability to arbitrarily call up and change the necessary ideas.

Within the framework of active imagination, recreative, creative imagination is distinguished, and some authors separately single out a dream.,

A.G. Maklakov gives such an example of a recreative imagination, when a person needs to recreate the idea of ​​an object or phenomenon as fully as possible, based on a verbal description. We encounter this kind of imagination when we read descriptions of geographical places or historical events, as well as when we get acquainted with literary heroes. It should be noted that the recreating imagination forms not only visual representations, but also tactile, auditory ones, which makes it possible to more fully form an image.

Creative imagination, in contrast to recreating, involves the independent creation of new images that are realized in original and valuable products of activity. Creative imagination is distinguished by the fact that in it reality is consciously constructed by a person, and not just mechanically copied or recreated. But at the same time, in the image it is still creatively transformed.,

S.L. Rubinstein notes that imagination and creativity are closely related. The connection between them, however, is not such that creativity is a product of the imagination. Leading is the inverse relationship; imagination is formed in the process of creative activity. The specialization of different types of imagination is not so much a prerequisite as the result of the development of various types of creative activity. Therefore, there are as many specific types of imagination as there are specific types of human activity - constructive, technical, scientific, artistic, pictorial, musical, etc. All these types of imagination, which are formed and manifested in various types of creative activity, constitute a variety of the highest level - creative imagination.

A special form of active imagination is a dream. This process takes the form of a special internal activity, which consists in creating an image of what a person would like to realize. The main feature of a dream is that it is aimed at future activities. It acts as an incentive or motive for activities, the final completion of which, for various reasons, has been delayed. ,

Moreover, several subtypes of this type of imagination should be distinguished. Most often, a person makes plans for the future and in his dream determines the ways to achieve his plans. In this case, the dream is an active, arbitrary, conscious process.

But in some cases, the dream acts as a substitute for activity. Dreams remain only dreams and are never realized in creative activity. As a result of a series of failures, a person refuses to fulfill his plans in practice and plunges into a dream. In this case, the dream acts as a conscious, arbitrary process that has no practical completion. This type of dream is also typical for people with visual impairment, which can adversely affect their life and personal development in general.

A.G. Maklakov notes the positive meaning of the dream, which consists in ensuring the safety of the mechanisms of regulation of body systems. Failures in practical activities in most cases contribute to the formation of a negative mental state, which can be expressed in an increased level of anxiety, a feeling of discomfort, or even in depressive reactions. In turn, a negative mental state acts as one of the factors that cause difficulties in the socio-psychological adaptation of a person, the formation of maladaptive ones. In this situation, a dream can act as a kind of psychological defense, providing a temporary escape from the problems that have arisen, which contributes to a certain neutralization of the negative mental state and ensuring the safety of regulatory mechanisms while reducing the overall activity of a person.

Depending on the nature of the images with which the imagination operates, one sometimes distinguishes between concrete and abstract imagination.

The images that the imagination operates with can be different; these can be single images, burdened with many details, and typified images, generalized schemes, symbols. Accordingly, there are various kinds of imagination - more concrete and more abstract. The difference between concrete and abstract imagination is the difference between the images with which the imagination operates. Abstract imagination uses images of a high degree of generalization, generalized images - schemes, symbols (in mathematics). Abstract and concrete imagination are not polar opposites; there are many interactions between them.

1.3 Functions of the imagination

R.S. Nemov identifies the following functions:

The first of these is to represent reality in images and be able to use them when solving various problems. This function of imagination is connected with thinking.

The second function of the imagination, singled out by R.S. Nemov, consists in the regulation of emotional states. With the help of his imagination, a person is able to at least partially satisfy many needs, to relieve the tension generated by them. This vital function is especially emphasized and developed in psychoanalysis.

The third function of the imagination is associated with its participation in the arbitrary regulation of cognitive processes and human states, in particular, perception, attention, memory, speech, and emotions. With the help of evoked images, a person can pay attention to the necessary events. Through images, he gets the opportunity to control perception, memories, statements.

The fourth function of the imagination is the formation of an internal plan of action - the ability to perform them in the mind, manipulating images.

Finally, the fifth function is planning and programming activities, drawing up such programs, assessing their correctness, and the implementation process.

M.V. Gamezo highlights the following features:

cognitive function. Thanks to the imagination, there is a concentration of attention, thinking, memory. Thus, the surrounding world is known more deeply.

The second function is regulatory. It is expressed in planning and regulation of activities, anticipation of the result of labor (anticipation); in the regulation of cognitive processes.

The third function that M.V. Gamezo, is an affective function. Its essence lies in the fact that the imagination, participating in the regulation of emotional states, can replace unsatisfied needs.

Imagination functions identified by L.S. Vygotsky:

The main function of the imagination is to organize such forms of behavior that have never yet been encountered in human experience. Further L.S. Vygotsky notes several functions of a different nature, but closely related to the main function of finding behavior that corresponds to new environmental conditions.

The first function of L.S. Vygotsky calls consistent. Its essence is that everything that we know not from our own experience, we know with the help of imagination.

The second function of the imagination of L.S. Vygotsky calls emotional; it consists in the fact that every emotion has its own specific, not only external, but also internal expression, and, consequently, fantasy is the tool that directly carries out the work of our emotions. It is known that far from all the impulses and desires that we have are realized. Therefore, the question follows: what is the fate of those nervous excitations that arise quite realistically in the nervous system, but do not receive their implementation? They get the nature of the conflict between human behavior and the environment. If he does not get an outlet in other forms of behavior, then a neurotic disease may develop. And so the function of sublimation, that is, the socially higher realization of unfulfilled possibilities, falls to the lot of the imagination.

Thus, noting the types and functions of the imagination, it must be said that the imagination plays an important role in the implementation of many processes occurring in our body. It covers the conscious and unconscious spheres of brain activity, which increases interest in the further study of the imagination and its role in human life.

1.4 Development of the imagination

Based on the research of L.S. Vygotsky, it is important to note that the sensitive period for the development of the imagination is the preschool age. The child's imagination develops most productively under the influence of adults.

A.G. Maklakov notes that the development of the imagination is carried out in the course of human ontogenesis and requires the accumulation of a certain stock of ideas that can later serve as material for creating images of the imagination. Imagination develops in close connection with the development of the whole personality, in the process of training and education, as well as in unity with thinking, memory, will and feelings.

Despite the complexity of determining the stages of development of a person's imagination, certain patterns in its formation can be distinguished. Thus, the first manifestations of imagination are closely connected with the process of perception. The connection between perception and imagination is visible when the child in his games begins to process the impressions received, modifying previously perceived objects in his imagination (a chair turns into a cave or an airplane, a box into a car). But the first images of the child’s imagination are always associated with activity. The child does not dream, but embodies the reworked image in his activity, and the leading type of child's activity is the game.

The next stage identified by A.G. Maklakov, is associated with the age when the child masters speech. Speech allows you to include in the imagination not only specific images, but also more abstract ideas and concepts. Moreover, speech allows the child to move from expressing images of the imagination in activity to their direct expression in speech.

The stage of mastering speech is accompanied by an increase in practical experience and the development of attention, which makes it easier for the child to single out individual parts of the subject, which he already perceives as independent and which he increasingly operates in his imagination. However, the synthesis occurs with significant distortions of reality. Due to the lack of sufficient experience and insufficient critical thinking, the child cannot create an image that is close to reality. The main feature of this stage is the involuntary nature of the emergence of images of the imagination. Most often, images of the imagination are formed in a child of this age involuntarily, in accordance with the situation in which he is.

The next stage in the development of the imagination, which A.G. Maklakov is associated with the appearance of its active forms. At this stage, the process of imagination becomes arbitrary. The emergence of active forms of imagination is initially associated with a stimulating initiative on the part of an adult. For example, when an adult asks a child to do something, he activates the process of imagination. Later, the child begins to use arbitrary imagination without any adult participation. This leap in the development of the imagination finds its reflection, first of all, in the nature of the child's games. They become purposeful and plot-driven. The things surrounding the child become not just stimuli for the development of objective activity, but act as material for the embodiment of images of his imagination.

Another major shift in imagination occurs during school age. The need to understand the educational material determines the activation of the process of recreating the imagination. In order to assimilate the knowledge that is given at school, the child actively uses his imagination, which causes the development of the ability to process images of perception into images of imagination. But it should be noted that the recreating imagination is not always capable of unfolding vivid images. This may be due to a misunderstanding of the studied material (high speed of material supply, insufficient amount of information, etc.). In this case, the recreative imagination will not develop properly, which may adversely affect the further development of the child's psyche.

Imagination in people is developed in different ways, and it manifests itself in different ways in their activities and social life. Individual features of the imagination are expressed in the degree of development of the imagination, which is characterized by the brightness of the images and the depth with which the data of past experience are processed, as well as the novelty and meaningfulness of the results of this processing. Weak development of the imagination is expressed in a low level of processing of ideas and entails difficulties in solving mental problems that require the ability to visualize a specific situation. With an insufficient level of development of the imagination, a rich and emotionally versatile life is impossible.

Knowledge of the mechanisms of development of the imagination plays an important role in the study of the psyche of normally seeing and visually impaired people. It is important to understand that imagination with impaired vision develops according to the same laws as with normal vision and is of the same importance in the life of the blind and visually impaired as in the life of the sighted. But, at the same time, the process and development of the imagination of people with impaired vision has a number of features, which will be discussed in the next chapter, where I analyzed the studies conducted in the framework of special psychology.

2. The study of imagination in special psychology

.1 Influence of visual pathology on the process of imagination

It is often believed - writes P. Willey - that the blind man is devoid of any imagination. Because we are misled by words. Many understand the word “image” as a visual image and therefore believe that a blind person cannot have such a developed imagination as a sighted one. In fact, the imagination of the blind, associated with spatial representations, is no less developed than that of the sighted. Nevertheless, the spatial representations of the blind cannot be as vivid and concrete as those of the sighted. But in order to imagine various combinations of events, the interaction of various characters and actions, vision is not required for this. You just need to have a subtle and flexible mind, the ability to deeply feel and mentally transform into other people, to be transferred to other conditions, you need to have curiosity and a certain goal setting. All this can happen to a blind person in the same way as to a sighted person.

Imagination expands the boundaries of human knowledge from early childhood. It has a significant impact on the development of personal qualities, contributes to the development of thinking, will, feelings and emotions.

Visual impairment to a certain extent limits the development of the imagination. However, thanks to compensatory mechanisms and the restoration of sensory development, logical thinking, as well as the active functioning of other mental functions, people with visual impairments can achieve significant results in their activities. Imagination, as a motive for activity, plays a significant role in the processes of vision compensation and personality development.

Imagination is of great importance for the blind. It expands his sensory experience, clarifies the already existing ideas. Being a leading reflection and facilitating adaptation to the rapidly changing conditions of the surrounding world, imagination is necessary for the blind.

It should be noted that the most important criterion for the richness of the reserves of images of the imagination is the time of the onset of a visual defect, which is essential for the mental and physical development of the child. The earlier blindness sets in, the more noticeable are the secondary deviations, in particular the poverty of the imagination. The later the child lost his sight, the greater his volume of visual representations, which can be recreated through verbal descriptions. But if you do not develop visual memory, partially preserved after the loss of vision, there is a gradual erasure of visual images.

The essence of imagination, as noted by A.G. Litvak, lies in the process of transformation, combining previous experience. Further, Litvak notes that qualitative and quantitative changes in memory images in visual impairments complicate the process of their combination, thereby hindering the development of mechanisms for transforming representations. Consequently, the development of the imagination of people with visual impairments slows down both due to the impoverishment of sensory experience and due to difficulties in the formation of imagination mechanisms.

As N.M. Nazarova notes, loss of vision forms the originality of the emotional-volitional sphere, character, sensory experience. The blind have difficulties in playing, learning, in mastering professional activities - that is, in those types of activities where imagination plays a very important role. The indicated difficulties, in turn, can lead to negative consequences in the form of complex personal experiences and, as a result of these experiences, to “going into a dream”.

V.M. Sorokin emphasizes that such a phenomenon is extremely dangerous for people with visual impairments. The harmfulness of this phenomenon lies in the fact that inadequate dreams in a blind person can either suspend his activity, replacing real activity, or, conversely, acquiring elements of reality, activate it in the direction of achieving an unrealizable goal. Therefore, a special role in the formation of the child's personality is played by his inclusion in active play, educational and labor activities in order to avoid the development of such forms of fantasy.

According to V.M. Sorokin and A.G. Litvak, in order to avoid these negative phenomena, a blind person must be deeply aware of his defect and have an idea of ​​\u200b\u200bhis capabilities. When teaching such people, adequate images should be formed that correspond to their abilities, age, and needs. After all, the main point in the imagination is needs, and the content of a person’s dreams is a reflection of his needs. ,

And when forming adequate images, it must be remembered that the blind often form ideas that are based to a greater extent on schematism and verbalism.

Therefore, competently implemented pedagogical work is necessary, the selection of such methods and teaching methods that will meet the needs and capabilities of a blind person.

After all, a blind person has all the opportunities for a high level of psychophysical development and full knowledge of the world around him, relying on well-preserved analyzers. In the conditions of special training, adequate methods and methods of using auditory, skin, olfactory, vibrational and other analyzers are formed, which represent the sensory basis for the development of mental processes. Thanks to this, higher forms of cognitive activity develop, which are leading in the compensatory restructuring of perception.

Summing up the above, it must be said that deep visual impairments have a negative effect on the process of imagination to a greater extent. Although, according to the blind-born A.M. Shcherbina, which leads A, G. Litvak, loss of vision contributes to the development of higher mental functions. Since the blind, being separated from the outside world, creates his own inner world through imagination, which makes his imagination brighter and more vivid than that of the sighted. However, it should be borne in mind that people with profound visual impairments have a narrowing of sensory cognition, which can indeed have a significant impact on the reconstruction of images of the imagination.

An important practical conclusion follows from the foregoing. For the development of imagination in the blind and visually impaired, it is necessary to develop early and comprehensive sensory and, on its basis, the creation of representations. ). It is especially important when these ideas are deeply comprehended by the blind, so that temporary connections do not fall apart, and he can subsequently operate with his knowledge. Therefore, well-organized training and education of the blind ensures the full development of their imagination, and reduces the risk of negative consequences that accompany the loss of visual functions. And it is equally important to understand that the effect of corrective work depends not only on the chosen methodological methods, but also on the purposeful and systematic nature of this work. Otherwise, the achieved corrective effect may be unstable. Therefore, once again I would like to note that properly organized training of people with visual impairments can ensure the full development of their imagination.

2.2 Features and functions of the imagination of the blind

As noted earlier, the process of imagination occurs in the blind according to the same laws as in the sighted. But in conditions of visual impairment, the imagination of the blind has some features.

A.G. Litvak identifies the following characteristic points: a decrease in the level of originality, which manifests itself in the impoverishment of plots; the stereotype of the created images, their schematic and conventionality; substitution of images of imagination by images of memory; the phenomenon of perseveration - a tendency to repeat the same images with minor changes. In addition, A.G. Litvak names a number of other features, expressed in a decrease in the mobility and plasticity of images, which prevents the blind from imagining the rotation of objects in their minds, which in turn entails difficulties in spatial orientation. Among other things, A.G. Litvak highlights a feature associated with a decrease in the ability to predict - predict. And also the author notes the aspect that the imagination is closely connected with the emotional sphere of the personality. And emotional coloring is one of the main features of fantasy images. Further A.G. Litvak characterizes the imagination of the blind as emotionally immature, since his images, as a rule, are not emotionally expressive.

In the course of a study conducted by G.V. Nikulina, whose purpose was to study the characteristics of creative imagination associated with the artistic and speech activity of students, analyzed the quality of images of creative imagination recreated by normally seeing and visually impaired students. A comparative analysis was carried out in grades 1 and 3 among blind, visually impaired and normally seeing children. This analysis shows that fairy tales invented by students with visual impairments are basically very similar to the plots of works known to students and have some minor changes. The plots of fairy tales created by normally seeing and visually impaired grades 3 are characterized by novelty and originality (compared to first graders of the same groups). This allows us to talk about the static, viscosity of the images of the imagination of children with visual impairments, which manifests itself in the fact that most children could not create their own original plot. And also in the course of the study, the following features were found: insufficient differentiation of images of the imagination; the predominance of fairy tales, the plot of which was replaced by a simple enumeration of the actions of the characters, while normally seeing children had a complete plot in fairy tales.

An analysis of the experiment showed that the process of creative imagination in students with visual impairments is subject to the general laws of development of this process. With age, for all groups of students, the number of created images increases, the degree of their detail increases, the number of fairy tales with a complete plot increases. From grades 1 to 3, the number of students who are able to subordinate their creative imagination to the task set by the experimenter increases. However, the analysis of creative imagination revealed some lag in the development of this process in visually impaired students. Blind and visually impaired people recreate a much smaller number of images and their detail is practically absent. Children with visual impairments have difficulty creating a story.

Next, a plan of a training experiment was outlined, aimed at developing the ability to build a plan-concept, determine the relationship between images and detail them. This experiment consisted of 4 stages.

At the 1st stage, the skills were formed to master the ways of constructing images, to include them in certain situations and to detail them. The visually impaired were asked to describe in detail the hero of the plot.

At the 2nd stage, the ability to follow a detailed plan-concept in the form of pictures was formed, each of which corresponded to one of the episodes of the fairy tale.

At the 3rd stage, the ability to follow the plan-intent was fixed. And at the 4th stage, the ability to perform a series of sequential actions in the mind was formed: to draw up a plan-intention of a fairy tale, present it in the form of a diagram, then tell a fairy tale, detailing the characters.

After analyzing the data of the training experiment, G. V. Nikulina notes that the work performed by students after the experiment is of a higher quality. The indicator of image detailing, the presence of a plot and its originality has increased, which indicates the development of students' ability to create a holistic idea of ​​their work and follow it during verbal reproduction. This gives reason to believe that the ways of developing the creative imagination of children with visual impairments are effective and should be used in teaching.

As A.G. Litvak, the creative imagination of the blind, because of the poverty of ideas, suffers more significantly than the recreative one. And also the low level of creative imagination is due to the fact that the absence or violation of visual functions creates obstacles for the child to master the culture of mankind, since culture is designed for a normal psychophysical organization. This means that creative activity in many areas of culture is possible only with vision. But along with this position, which was expressed by L.S. Vygotsky, A.G. Litvak emphasizes that creative imagination is not limited to the realm of art, but permeates all types of human activity. Therefore, it should be noted that visual defects limit the possibilities for the development of imagination only in certain areas of activity. Describing creative imagination in general, A.G. Litvak emphasizes the decline in his quantitative productivity and connects this with the poverty and monotony of associative links that underlie the production of fantasy images.

As for the issue of recreating imagination in the blind, there are also some features here, which V.M. Sorokin. Namely, it was found that the compositions of children with visual impairments have an inaccuracy in the transfer of spatial relationships. And also the compositions are often fragmentary, characterized by the absence of some constituent parts. Further V.M. Sorokin highlights such features of the construction of compositions for the blind as stereotype, low level of variability, and a decrease in the total number of recreated images. In addition, the author notes a decrease in the level of voluntary control over the course of associative processes and insufficient criticality in relation to the products of one's own imagination, which is expressed in the introduction of foreign objects into the composition.

But these negative aspects of the development of the recreative imagination in the blind can be overcome through specially organized training, using various methods of activating the imagination.

It should be noted that in addition to the main functions of the recreating imagination (reflective and regulatory), it performs a compensatory function, consisting in the possibility of a certain replenishment of ideas about the world around and expanding their range. Imagination acts as a means of enhancing the cognitive capabilities of the blind. But at the same time, it needs corrective development.

The more developed the imagination - writes O.V. Borovik, the easier it is for the child to solve problems that require both visual-figurative thinking and verbal-logical. That is why imagination is considered as one of the means of correction.

With the help of recreative imagination, the blind transform in their imagination the images that arise on the basis of verbal descriptions, their ideas, as a result of which they adequately represent objects that were not directly perceived by them.

The development of recreative imagination helps to fill in the gaps in sensory knowledge, and also prevents the transition into passive imagination, which can prevent the blind from leading an active life. The transition to passive forms of imagination is harmful for the blind, because on their basis he receives suspicious support that leads him away from harsh reality, which in turn leads to alienation from the real world.

But one should not consider passive forms of imagination only from a negative point of view. Most often, dreams and dreams perform the function of compensation. They soften the feeling of inferiority, play a role in emotional adaptation, reducing the level of neuropsychic stress. But it is important to remember that the excessive functioning of passive forms of imagination, leading to personality autism, can even impede the process of social rehabilitation of visually impaired people. The tendency of the blind to autistic imagination is associated with the poverty of sensory experience, playful and productive activities, limited communication, and a decrease in general motor activity. And also an important role in this is played by the peculiarities of family education. Thus, the causes of passive imagination are more related to the environment in which the child lives and is brought up, under the pressure of which the personality is formed.

Despite the limited possibilities, the imagination of the blind is widely used in the processes of activity, it makes up for the shortcomings of perception and the poverty of sensory experience, thus performing, in addition to its main functions, compensatory ones.

Based on the research provided, the following conclusions can be drawn. The process of imagination of people with impaired vision occurs according to the same laws and performs the same functions as those of people with normal vision. But under the condition of loss of vision, their imagination proceeds with some features, which does not mean the impossibility of a high development of this mental function and has an additional function that is compensatory and plays an important role in the life of blind people

Conclusion

Summing up the work done, first of all, it must be said that the imagination in the life of people with visual impairments is of great importance. Imagination does not stand as a separate function, it is closely connected with other higher mental functions and is the most important link in the development and life of a person.

The main goal of education and training is a harmoniously and comprehensively developed personality. And without imagination, learning and any other activity is impossible, therefore, the development of imagination from childhood is necessary for the full development of the individual and its formation in society.

People with visual impairments are partly deprived of the fullness of their ideas about the world around them, which, in turn, has an extremely negative effect on their development and life in general. But this does not mean that their imagination cannot be developed as well as that of sighted people. After all, as you know, the mechanisms of imagination in the blind and the sighted are identical, therefore, with the right choice of teaching methods and techniques, it is possible to achieve a high level of development of their imagination.

Despite the importance of the development of the imagination process in people with visual impairments, it must be said that not too many studies have been carried out regarding the disclosure of all the features of the development and formation of the imagination of the blind. Therefore, it is important that research in this direction does not stop. So that, in turn, teachers on their basis can develop high-quality teaching methods and techniques, overcoming the difficulties of developing the imagination of blind people. Thus contributing to their successful integration into society and improving the quality of life indicators of this group of people.

In my work, I tried to summarize and highlight the existing knowledge in this area, as well as highlight the main directions in which the study of imagination is carried out and show the role that imagination plays in the life of people with profound visual impairments.

List of used literature

1.Borovik O.V. Defectology. // Use of tasks for imagination as a method of correctional work//. - M.: School-Press, 1999.

.Byurklen K. Psychology of the blind. - M.: State educational and pedagogical publishing house, 1934.

.Willey P. Psychology of the blind. - Len.: State educational and pedagogical publishing house, 1931.

.Vygotsky L.S. Psychology. - M.: EKSMO-Press, 2000.

.Vygotsky L.S. Imagination and creativity in childhood: A psychological essay. // Creativity and imagination. - M.: Enlightenment, 1991.

.Vygotsky L.S. Imagination and creativity in childhood: A psychological essay. // Imagination and reality. - M.: Enlightenment, 1991.

.Gamezo M.V. General psychology. - M.: Os-89, 2007.

.Ermakov V.P., Yakunin G.A. Fundamentals of typhlopedagogy. - M.: Vlados, 1999.

.Litvak A.G. Psychology of the blind and visually impaired: Textbook for students of higher pedagogical educational institutions. - St. Petersburg: Karo, 2006.

.Maklakov A.G. General psychology. - St. Petersburg: Piter-Press, 2008.

.Nazarova N.M. Special Pedagogy. - M.: Academy, 2000.

.Nemov R.S. General foundations of psychology. - M.: Vlados, 2003.

.Nikolaeva E.I. Psychology of children's creativity. - St. Petersburg: Speech, 2006

.Nikulina G.V. The development of the creative imagination of younger visually impaired schoolchildren associated with their artistic and speech activity. // Psychological and pedagogical foundations of correctional and educational work with the blind and visually impaired //. - Len.: 1991.

.Petrovsky A.V., Yaroshevsky M.G. General psychology. - M.: Enlightenment, 1973.

.Rubinshtein S.L. Fundamentals of General Psychology. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2000.

.Sitarov V.A. Didactics. - M.: Academy, 2002

.Sorokin V.M. Questions of training and education of the blind. // Psychological and pedagogical foundations of correctional and educational work with the blind and visually impaired //. - Len.: 1991.

.Sorokin V.M. Some features of the recreative imagination in general and special psychology. // Psychological and pedagogical foundations of correctional and educational work with the blind and visually impaired //. - Len.: 1991.

.Sorokin V.M. Passive imagination of the blind and visually impaired. // Psychological and pedagogical foundations of correctional and educational work with the blind and visually impaired //. - Len.: 1991.

GOU VPO Russian Academy of Economics

them. G.V. Plekhanov

Report

on the topic:

"Imagination as one of the cognitive and mental processes"

Completed by: Blagova Ekaterina

Zotova Yana

Faculty of Management

Group No. 1230

Moscow 2009

I. Introduction ............................................... ................................................. .........3

II. Imagination as one of the cognitive and mental processes……...3

1. Traits, functions of the imagination and the development of techniques in a person

changes and transformations of representations in the process of imagination ...................... 3

2. Causes of fantasy .............................................. ..............................................5

3. Basic types of imagination .............................................. ...............................6

4. Ways of appearance of images ............................................... .........................7

III. Conclusion................................................. ................................................. ...eight

IV. Bibliography............................................... ................ten

Introduction

Psychology studies the mental activity of a person. This science includes several branches. One of them is general psychology, which studies the general laws that are characteristic of all mental phenomena. It explores the individual, highlighting the cognitive processes and personality in him.

Cognitive mental processes supply and constitute the material of the inner world of man. Cognitive mental processes include: sensation, perception, attention, imagination, memory, thinking, speech and language. With the help of cognitive processes, a person receives and comprehends information, displays the objective world, transforming it into a subjective image. Thus, cognitive processes are different in complexity levels of reflection of reality.

As we have already said, imagination is one of the cognitive processes. It enables a person to reflect such objects and phenomena that did not take place in his personal experience, but which existed, exist or will exist. Thanks to the imagination, a person can mentally move in space and time, visit places inaccessible to him. Imagination links the present with the past and the future, makes the impossible possible, the inaccessible accessible. People not only cognize and contemplate the world, they change and transform it. But in order to transform reality in practice, one must be able to do it mentally as well. It is this need that the imagination satisfies. Thanks to him, a person creates, reasonably plans his activity and manages it. Almost all human material and spiritual culture is a product of people's imagination and creativity.

Imagination is a very important feature of a person, which consists in the fact that his behavior is not at all limited by a narrow area of ​​reality, predetermined by givenness in the past and present. Man transcends the limits of immediate reality and creates a new reality. The possibility of this is provided to him by imagination, or fantasy. Not content with what is given objectively in the form of the contents of perception and memory, we begin to imagine new contents through fantasy, to create new representations that are not a reflection of the objective reality given through perception, but, on the contrary, expanding its limits in order to create a new reality.

Taking into account the importance of imagination in a person's life, how it affects his mental processes and states, and even on the body, we will consider the problem of imagination.

Imagination as a cognitive process

1. Features, functions of the imagination and the formation of human techniques

changes and transformations of representations in the process of imagination

Imagination is a mental process that consists in creating new images or ideas by processing the material of perception and ideas obtained in previous experience, that is, memory ideas.

If the images of the imagination created by man are never realized in reality, then they are fantastic images, and the process of their creation will be called fantasy. Other researchers of the human psyche consider fantasy to be synonymous with imagination.

Imagination is the basis of visual-figurative thinking. Imagination has the following features:

1) It is an integral part of the creative process.

2) The activity of the imagination depends on the general orientation of the personality.

3) Imagination is closely related to memory, since its specificity lies in the processing of past experience.

4) It is also closely related to perception, affects the creation of images perceived by thinking.

5) Imagination is connected with thinking. Imagination and thinking arise in problem situations and are motivated by personality problems.

Imagination is unique to man. With a rich imagination, a person can live in different times, which no other living being in the world can afford. The past is fixed in images of memory, and the future is presented in dreams and fantasies.

Imagination arose as a result of social and labor activities aimed at understanding and transforming the world around us. Even the simplest, elementary process of labor cannot be carried out without imagination, without a mental representation of the goal of labor and the means, methods for achieving it.

Labor is not only a source of imagination, but also a constant means of its improvement and development. The complication of the forms of labor in the process of the historical development of human society, the constant improvement of the means of labor and the instruments of production, the emergence and development of new forms of labor activity have made and are making ever new and increased demands on the human imagination and thus contribute to its development. Labor contributed to the formation and improvement in a person of the following methods of changing and transforming ideas in the process of imagination:

1. Isolation from a holistic image of an object of any of its elements or properties, a mental representation in one's imagination of this element or property separately from the object to which they belong. For example, the presentation of one form of stone tool as suitable for cutting; idea of ​​the size of the stick as a means to lengthen the arm. Compound in his imagination of isolated elements and their properties and in this way creating a mental image, representing a new object that did not previously exist in nature, for example, a spear. Then followed the mental endowment of this weapon with the properties of hitting a target from afar (throwing) or near (delivering a blow, a powerful thrust) and, in connection with this, giving a special form to each of these tools (a light dart and a heavy spear), and finally, a mental strengthening of some properties or qualities, giving this property a disproportionately greater or special value in the characteristics of the object (cunning in a fox, cowardice in a hare).

2. Transfer of this property on other objects (the leader of the tribe is cunning, like a fox; enemies are cowardly, like hares).

3. Mental weakening some property or quality of an object, leading to the construction of a contrasting image, endowed with properties that are directly opposite to the original (many characters of folk epics, fairy tales).

4. merger two or more images into a new, holistic image (the sphinx of the ancient Egyptians, the centaur of the ancient Greeks).

5. Create a new image as a result generalizations features observed in a number of similar objects. For example, the typification of the image in fiction: Onegin, Pechorin, Oblomov, Korchagin and other literary characters, as exponents of the typical features of their class and era. All this is reflected in the techniques of the imagination.

In human life, imagination performs a number of specific functions.

1. Cognitive. This function lies in the fact that the imagination contributes to the expansion and deepening of knowledge. As varieties of the cognitive function, one can name, on the one hand, the generalization function, which manifests itself in the generation of diverse elements, situations, opportunities, and, on the other hand, the synthetic function, which consists in creating a holistic neoplasm (a new combination of images through their partial transformation). Through the creation of new images, many discoveries and inventions occur, so imagination is an indispensable psychological factor in search creative activity.

2. Emotional. This function is expressed in the fact that through an imaginary situation, tension can be discharged and a kind of symbolic (figurative) resolution of conflicts that are difficult to remove by real practical actions. The function of emotional impact can also be carried out by images of the imagination. Bright images of the imagination, distinguished by sensual liveliness, affect the emotional background of activity, stimulate an increase or decrease in mood in its process. They can both contribute to the enthusiasm for work, and hinder the work or educational process.

3. regulatory function. It assumes that the images of the imagination acquire an incentive value, contribute to the activity of a person in a certain direction. The images of the imagination, being associated with the needs, interests and other components of the orientation of the individual, become one of the psychological factors of creative inspiration.

4. programming function. This is the programming of the future human behavior. It is realized in the mental drawing up by a person of plans and programs for his future behavior, in their figurative representation.

5. Control and corrective. It lies in the fact that images of the imagination allow you to correct errors and shortcomings, as well as improve the methods and techniques of the work performed.

6. Anticipatory function (anticipation). This is the ability to foresee the development of events, phenomena, results of actions. Thanks to the ability to foresee, a person can see, as it were, with a "mind's eye" what will happen to him, to other people or to surrounding things in the future. The younger the person, the more and more vividly the forward orientation of his imagination is presented. In the elderly and old people, the imagination is more focused on the events of the past.

2. Reasons for fantasy

What is the reason that a person breaks away from reality and begins to build an unreal world, turns away from the actual situation and imagines a non-existent one? What is the meaning, the reason for the creation of the unreal, while our life takes place exclusively in the real world? That is, the question arises at the same time about the cause and meaning of fantasy.

Objective reality exists independently of us, has its own stable laws that are not subject to our desires and needs, although their satisfaction depends precisely on this reality. Often our needs go unmet. It is clear that in such cases the subject has an impulse to create a reality that can provide the possibility of satisfying an existing need, as long as the existing reality does not satisfy it. Psychoanalysis (Freud and others) drew special attention to this role of unsatisfied needs, convincingly proving that the work of our fantasy is very often based on the energy emanating from our unsatisfied needs. In the presence of some strong need, which we cannot satisfy, we usually have a clear idea of ​​​​its object: an unsatisfied need gives impetus to the actualization of the imagination.

However, as you know, imaginary reality often takes on such a form that it can only be associated with some specific biological need, perhaps artificially. Therefore, Freud made a very artificial interpretation of the representations of fantasy in order to convincingly link their content with such needs. It seems that the imagination has a different basis. The fact is that often objective reality does not allow us to use our forces in all directions, although we feel an unconditional need for this. It is possible that fantasy, by creating an artificial reality, thereby often pursues the goal of satisfying this need.

In addition, there is no doubt that in the process of our daily life and activity, on the basis of various needs and under the influence of diverse impressions, many attitudes arise, which can be realized, fully revealed in the conditions of this objective reality, either partially - to a greater or lesser extent, or impossible at all. Undoubtedly, these attitudes strive for realization and it is in fantasy that they find the unlimited possibility of their adequate manifestation.

Thus, a person has a lot of things that it is impossible to satisfy or fully reveal in the conditions of the existing reality. However, man is an active being, initially striving for the full revelation and deployment of his essence. Fantasy is that mental function that allows you to do this within certain limits, in particular, within the framework of mental reality.

3. Basic types of imagination

The emergence of images of imagination in a person can occur both intentionally and unintentionally. In this regard, there are two types of imagination: intentional (arbitrary) and unintentional (involuntary).

Involuntary imagination is the simplest type of imagination and consists in the emergence and combination of ideas and their elements into new ideas without a specific intention on the part of a person, with a weakening of conscious control on his part over the course of his ideas. Involuntary imagination is often observed in young children. It appears most clearly in dreams or in a half-asleep, drowsy state, when ideas arise spontaneously. Unintentional imagination also takes place in the waking state. One should not think that certain new images always arise as a result of conscious purposeful human activity.

Intentionally, images of the imagination can be created for two purposes. In one case, their creation is necessary for the implementation of vigorous activity aimed at creating a new object necessary for life. Such an active imagination develops already in children's games, in which children take on certain roles (pilot, train driver, doctor, etc.). The need to display the chosen role most correctly in the game leads to the active work of the imagination. In another case, images of the imagination are created only in order to escape from reality into an invented illusory world. Such fantastic images that are created by a person so that he can express himself as he wants, even in a fictional situation, are called dreams. Dreams, replacing a person's active activity, belong to the passive type of imagination.

Active imagination can be recreative and creative.

Recreative (reproductive) imagination aimed at creating new images based on a verbal description, drawing, drawing, schematic representation of an object. It is of great importance in educational activities. When acquiring scientific knowledge, students must create images of objects that they have never perceived.

Creative (productive) imagination- this is a kind of imagination, during which a person independently creates new images and ideas that are of value to other people or society as a whole and which are embodied in specific original products of activity. Creative imagination is a necessary component and basis of artistic, technical, scientific human creativity. Creativity is necessary for both adults and children. In childhood, fantastic images are created on its basis, which are often as real for children as the images that arose on the basis of perception.

The same vivid images of the imagination often arise in people involved in creativity: writers, artists, musicians. Turgenev wrote about the heroes of the novel "Fathers and Sons": "I painted all these faces, as if I were painting mushrooms, leaves, trees: my eyes were sore and I began to draw." Dickens wrote the same thing: "I do not compose the content of the book, but I see it and write it down."

Images of creative imagination can be realistic and fantastic. Realistic images are created on the basis of creativity both in practical and theoretical activities. Engineers, architects, scientists, designers, innovators create such images and ideas that, embodied in material objects, contribute to the development of science, technology, culture and the spiritual life of society.

Fantastic images are created by writers, scientists, artists, sculptors, inventors. They are realized in works of art, paintings, drawings, projects, sculptures, etc. There are science-fiction, fairy-tale-fantastic and religious-mystical images. They embody the future achievements of science and technology, the beliefs and aspirations of people, their desire to realize their dreams and ideals.

A dream is of particular importance in a person's life. In dreams, people create images of the desired future they aspire to. Dreams help them to realize the images created in the process of creative activity. They enable a person to gather all his strength, mobilize all the resources to overcome the difficulties that have arisen in the process of creativity.

3. Ways of appearance of images.

Consider the mechanism of imagination.

The creation of images of the imagination is carried out on the basis of complex mental activity aimed at transforming representations or their elements in new combinations. These mental actions are of a specific nature and are carried out in the form of imagination processes, through which new images are created. There are a number of imaginative processes or techniques.

One of these processes is agglutination, i.e. “gluing” representations or their parts. Agglutination creates images of objects that do not exist in the real world. This is how mythological and fabulous images were created: a centaur, a minotaur, a mermaid, the Serpent Gorynych and others. Agglutination is widely used to create ideas about new technical designs. Such, for example, a vehicle as an aerosleigh was created on the basis of a combination of ideas about the individual parts of an airplane and a sleigh.

Another process of imagination is schematization. Schematic images are created by highlighting the main most important elements in their structures in objects and phenomena. So, architects create designs for various structures, inventors create diagrams of mechanisms and other devices, artists create abstract paintings, etc.

Close to schematization is the process of typing. Typical images are created in fiction. They combine both the typical features inherent in a whole category of people and the individual characteristics of a literary hero.

There is also such a technique for creating images of the imagination as hyperbolization. Through this technique, new images are created by excessive exaggeration or underestimation of ideas about real-life objects. This is how images are created: giants, midgets, gnomes, and other fairy-tale characters.

Such a technique for creating a new image as an accent is also possible. When accentuating, some of the most characteristic details of the object are emphasized by exaggeration. This is how artists create caricatures of certain characters in works of art, political figures or other famous people who have negative personality traits. Through accentuation, friendly cartoons are also created, in which any feature of a person that evokes a sense of humor is emphasized.

The creation of a new image is also possible by assimilation (analogy). Thus, the idea of ​​creating aircraft has always been associated by analogy with a flying bird, the creation of a locator - by analogy with the organs that send and receive ultrasounds in dolphins, bats, and other animals.

Imagination images can be created by transferring real objects and living beings into an environment where they cannot be. So, A. Belyaev created the image of Ichthyander in the work “Amphibian Man”. Just as fantastic at first were the ideas about a human diver, about spaceships, about astronauts going into space from a ship.

Conclusion

Imagination plays a big role in human life. It gives him the opportunity to predict the future, create new plans and programs, solve problems that have arisen in a new way, and find a way out of the most difficult situations. Imagination takes a person beyond the limits of his momentary existence, reminds him of the past, opens the future. Along with a decrease in the ability to fantasize, a person's personality is depleted, the possibilities of creative thinking are reduced, and interest in art and science is extinguished.

Imagination is closely connected with thinking, thanks to which a person can correctly evaluate the products of imagination, separate fantastic images from images that can be realized in reality. In turn, the imagination provides material for the functioning of figurative thinking, with the help of which a person can put forward fantastic hypotheses and assumptions about the essence of phenomena that are not amenable to logical explanation.

Imagination affects the activity of the entire human body. Under the influence of imagination, mental states, images, emotions and feelings change. It affects physical and physiological processes, movements and actions.

Imagination affects not only human behavior, but also the hidden processes that occur in the muscles of various parts of the body. It is enough to imagine that the hand is compressed, as in the muscles it is possible to fix the same impulses as in a real movement. Naturally, these impulses are very weak, but they have the same characteristics as in real movements. Under the influence of such impulses, invisible muscle contractions occur. These micromovements or ideomotor acts are the preparatory phase for real movement.

Imagination also influences organic processes, improving or worsening the physical condition of the organism. It is known that suspicious people often find imaginary symptoms of some disease in themselves and go to the doctor unnecessarily. This kind of phenomenon occurs primarily in people with a vivid imagination. The well-known psychologist A.R. Luria observed how in one subject the temperature of one hand increased by 2 degrees, and on the other it decreased by 1.5, depending on what he imagined, how he touched a hot stove with one hand, and held a piece in the other ice.

The main significance of imagination is that without it any human labor would be impossible, since it is impossible to work without imagining the final and intermediate results. Without imagination, progress in science, art, and technology would not be possible. Not a single school subject can be fully assimilated without the activity of the imagination. If there was no imagination, it would be impossible to make a decision and find a way out in a problem situation when we do not have the necessary completeness of knowledge. And in general, without imagination there would be no dream, but how boring life would be if people could not dream!!!

Bibliography

1. Stepanov V.E., Stupnitsky V.P. Psychology: textbook / Ed. doctor of psychological sciences Yu.M. Zabrodin. M.: Publishing and Trade Corporation "Dashkov and Co", 2008.

2. Uznadze D.N. General psychology. M.: Meaning, 2004.

1.1 Imagination as a cognitive mental process. Types and properties of imagination

Imagination is the main visual-figurative thinking that allows a person to navigate the situation and solve problems without the direct intervention of practical actions. It helps him in many ways in those cases of life when practical actions are either impossible, or difficult, or simply inexpedient or undesirable.

Imagination is a mental cognitive process of creating new ideas based on existing experience, i.e. the process of transforming reflection of reality (V. G. Krysko).

The physiological basis of imagination is the complex analytical and synthetic activity of the brain: the actualization of neural connections, their disintegration, regrouping and integration into new systems. In this way, images arise that do not coincide with previous experience, but are not divorced from it. Presumably, its physiological mechanisms are located not only in the cortex, but also in deeper regions of the brain. In particular, the hypothalamic-limbic system plays an important role here.

The physiological foundations of imagination are the residual forms of processes:

excitation and inhibition;

Irradiation and concentration;

· Positive and negative induction;

· Analysis and synthesis in the cortical sections of various analyzers.

As a result of this complex nervous activity, new, unreal images of the imagination arise, which arise both consciously and unconsciously.

There are several types of imagination, among which the main ones are passive and active. The passive, in turn, is divided into voluntary (dreaming, dreams) and involuntary (hypnotic state, dream fantasy). Active imagination includes artistic, creative, critical, recreative and anticipatory... Close to these types of imagination is empathy - the ability to understand another person, to be imbued with his thoughts and feelings, to sympathize, rejoice, empathize...

Under conditions of deprivation, different types of imagination are intensified, therefore, apparently, it is necessary to give their characteristics.

Active imagination is always aimed at solving a creative or personal problem. A person operates with fragments, units of specific information in a certain area, their movement in various combinations relative to each other. Stimulation of this process creates objective opportunities for the emergence of original new connections between the conditions fixed in the memory of a person and society. There is little daydreaming and "groundless" fantasy in the active imagination. Active imagination is directed to the future and operates with time as a well-defined category (i.e. a person does not lose the sense of reality, does not put himself outside of temporary connections and circumstances). Active imagination is directed more outward, a person is mainly occupied with the environment, society, activity and less with internal subjective problems. Active imagination, finally, is awakened by the task and directed by it, it is determined by volitional efforts and lends itself to volitional control.

Recreating imagination is one of the types of active imagination, in which people construct new images, ideas in accordance with the stimulation perceived from the outside in the form of verbal messages, diagrams, conditional images, signs, etc.

Despite the fact that the products of the recreating imagination are completely new images that were not previously perceived by a person, this type of imagination is based on previous experience. KD Ushinsky considered the imagination as a new combination of past impressions and past experience, believing that the recreating imagination is the product of the influence of the material world on the human brain. Primarily recreative/imagination is a process in which recombination occurs, the reconstruction of old perceptions into a new combination of them.

Anticipatory imagination underlies a very important and necessary human ability - to anticipate future events, to foresee the results of one's actions, etc. Etymologically, the word "foresee" is closely related and comes from the same root with the word "see", which shows the importance of understanding the situation and transferring certain elements of it into the future based on knowledge or prediction of the logic of events.

Thus, thanks to this ability, a person can see with his "mind's eye" what will happen to him, to other people or things around him in the future. F. Lersh called this the Promethean (looking ahead) function of the imagination, which depends on the magnitude of the life perspective: the younger the person, the more and brighter the forward orientation of his imagination is presented. In the elderly and old people, the imagination is more focused on the events of the past.

Creative imagination is a type of imagination during which a person independently creates new images and ideas that are of value to other people or society as a whole and which are embodied (“crystallized”) into specific original products of activity. Creative imagination is a necessary component and basis of all types of human creative activity.

Images of creative imagination are created through various methods of intellectual operations. In the structure of creative imagination, two types of such intellectual operations are distinguished. The first is the operations through which ideal images are formed, and the second is the operations on the basis of which the finished product is processed.

One of the first psychologists who studied these processes, T. Ribot identified two main operations: dissociation and association. Dissociation is a negative and preparatory operation in the course of which sensually given experience is fragmented. As a result of this preliminary processing of experience, its elements are able to enter into a new combination.

Without prior dissociation, creative imagination is unthinkable. Dissociation is the first stage of creative imagination, the stage of material preparation. The impossibility of dissociation is a significant obstacle to creative imagination.

Association - the creation of a holistic image from the elements of isolated units of images. Association gives rise to new combinations, new images. In addition, there are other intellectual operations, for example, the ability to think by analogy with a particular and purely random similarity.

Passive imagination is subject to internal, subjective factors, it is tendentious.

Passive imagination is subject to desires, which are thought to be realized in the process of fantasizing. In the images of the passive imagination, the unsatisfied, mostly unconscious needs of the individual are "satisfied". The images and representations of the passive imagination are aimed at strengthening and preserving positively colored emotions and at the displacement, reduction of negative emotions and affects.

During the processes of passive imagination, an unreal, imaginary satisfaction of any need or desire took place. This passive imagination differs from realistic thinking, which is aimed at real, not imaginary satisfaction of needs.

The materials of passive imagination, as well as active, are images, representations, elements of concepts and other information gleaned through experience.

Thus, it can be distinguished that imagination is associated with our ability and need to create something new. ” And further: “Imagination is a departure from past experience, its transformation. Imagination is a transformation of the given, carried out in a figurative form. "The main feature of the imagination process," writes E. I. Ignatiev, "in a particular practical activity is the transformation and processing of data of perception and other material of past experience, resulting in new impressions".

Many researchers note that imagination is the process of creating new visual images. This tendency refers the imagination to the forms of sensible material. The nature of the imagination is a synthesis, the unity of the logical and the sensual.

Imagination is an analytical-synthetic activity that is carried out under the guiding influence of a consciously set goal or feelings, experiences that possess a person at the moment. Most often, imagination arises in a problem situation, i.e. in those cases when it is necessary to find a new solution, i.e. a leading practical action of reflection is required, which occurs in a concrete-figurative form, as a result of operating with images.

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Imagination as a mental process

Imagination is a special form of the human psyche, standing apart from other mental processes and at the same time occupying an intermediate position between perception, thinking and memory.

Imagination is a mental process that consists in creating new images (representations) by processing the material of perception and representations obtained in previous experience.

One of the specific features of a person that sharply distinguishes him from an animal is the ability to act in accordance with an imaginary situation, which is often completely different from the situation perceived at the moment. This feature makes it possible for a person, in contrast to an animal, to consciously overcome “situational limitations”, “constriction of a given situation”, to overcome the influence that determines his behavior only “here” and “now” of a given situation.

Imagination is a mental cognitive process of creating images of objects previously partially or completely not perceived by the subject. This is a specific transformation of a person's past experience.

Along with the term "imagination", the term "fantasy" is widely used in our speech. In everyday understanding, they are most often not identical. The word “imagination” is usually associated with the idea of ​​something real and feasible, while the word “fantasy” has the meaning of unrealizable, unrealistic. Some scientists also breed these concepts, using the term "fantasy" to refer to one of the types of imagination - creative. They use the concept of fantasy only to describe artistic and creative activity. Usually in the psychological literature, the concepts of "imagination" and "fantasy" are considered equivalent.

Imagination is the most important element of the process of cognition and human activity. Imagination contributes to the anticipation of the future in the form of images, the content of which is a possible and / or necessary future. At the same time, it participates in the revival and reconstruction of images of what has already been. This process was named by L.N. Tolstoy as "imagination of the past". If we turn to the history of mankind, we can find in each era a preferred type of imagination. For example, fantastic monsters, mythological creatures - all this is a product of the imagination of people of that era, when a person could not explain the laws of the existence of the world otherwise.

Closely connected with the needs and interests of the individual, the imagination creates images of the desired future in the form of dreams and other ideal ideas with their specific intellectual and moral orientation.

Imagination is characterized by a three-phase character: images of imagination arise on the basis of perception, memory representations, on the basis of knowledge and previous life experience; then, in the process of transforming the images, a “fly away” from the source material is carried out; in the last phase, the creation of new images leads to a deepening of the knowledge of reality and the prediction of subsequent actions.

The connection of imagination with practical activity

Imagination is connected with the practical activity of a person in two ways: on the one hand, the practical relationship of a person to the world is the supplier of that “building material” that forms the basis of imagination; on the other hand, the source of fantasy is rooted in those needs and desires that precede their real satisfaction. The interaction of the subject with objective reality causes the emergence of imagination in the process of searching for something new, unknown to him.

Imagination functions

Imagination, in one form or another, “penetrates” all human activity. It accompanies us when we read a book, listen to music, work in a workshop, talk to a neighbor or sleep peacefully. Scientists say that it is to the imagination that we owe everything that makes scientific and technological progress. That is why the functions of the imagination are so numerous.

The cognitive function lies in the fact that the imagination contributes to the expansion and deepening of knowledge. As varieties of the cognitive function, one can name, on the one hand, the generalization function, which manifests itself in the generation of diverse elements, situations, opportunities, and, on the other hand, the synthetic function, which consists in creating a holistic neoplasm (a new combination of images through their partial transformation). Through the creation of new images, many discoveries and inventions occur, so imagination is an indispensable psychological factor in search creative activity.

The function of anticipation (anticipatory) - images of the imagination are the basis of a mental state aimed at what can or should happen, as well as preliminary adjustment in perception and action. Thanks to the images of the imagination, the process of anticipating the result of the situation under discussion, the subsequent course of action, act is facilitated, and in speech terms, the mental construction of the phrase is facilitated.

The regulatory function assumes that the images of the imagination acquire an incentive value, contribute to a person's activity in a certain direction. The images of the imagination, being associated with the needs, interests and other components of the orientation of the individual, become one of the psychological factors of creative inspiration.

The control and corrective function of images of the imagination is that they allow you to correct errors and shortcomings, as well as improve the methods and techniques of the work performed.

The function of emotional impact can also be carried out by images of the imagination. Bright images of the imagination, distinguished by sensual liveliness, affect the emotional background of activity, stimulate an increase or decrease in mood in its process. They can both contribute to the enthusiasm for work, and restrain the labor or educational process.

Connecting imagination with reality

There is no one-to-one correspondence between the images of the imagination and the phenomena of reality reflected in them, since the imagination is not a copy of the present. Imagination is a model of the alleged, based on the experience of the subject, which comes from the knowledge of the past and present state of the recreated system. However, any images of fantasy are determined. No, and there can be no empty fantasy, in which the objective world would not be reflected in one way or another: natural or social. However, the degree of adequacy of the reflection of reality in fantasy can be different. On this basis, an attempt was even made to classify fantasy (imagination) into the following types: 1) rational fantasy, reflecting the essential aspects of the object, 2) illusion, in which appearance is taken as essence, and 3) mystification, in which objective reality is deliberately distorted.

Theoretical Concepts of the Imagination

The creation of an adequate theory of imagination largely depends on the choice of basic facts, on the rational organization of experimental research. Representatives of different psychological schools made an attempt to answer the question about the reason for the emergence of the new, about the creation of images of the imagination.

The hypothesis of recognition of creative ideas was based on the fact that an artist, composer or scientist "recognizes" his future work.

Some concepts were based on the intuition data of scientists, others - on experimental results. Finally, two main theoretical approaches have been developed in the problem of imagination:

· An extreme idealistic view. Imagination is a primordially spontaneous creative force.

· Extremely mechanistic look. He was characterized by the desire to derive all the features of his products from the images of perception, from the data stored by memory.

A special place in the disclosure of the nature of the imagination belongs to psychoanalysis, which began precisely with the study of one of the forms of fantasy - from dreams. Sigmund Freud conducted a detailed analysis of the dreams of his patients. He showed that all the elements of a dream, which were considered incoherent, meaningless and absurd by patients, are closely connected with the entire inner life of a person and have a deep psychological meaning. The dream has real sources of two kinds: external reality and internal psychological life. Fantasy, according to Freud, manifests itself not only in the images of dreams, but also in works of art. It is subject to certain laws that guide the entire unconscious sphere in general: when forming images of the imagination, the mechanisms of shift and condensation work, symbols are used that replace faces, organs of the body, etc. These mechanisms, according to Freud, manifest themselves in all forms of fantasy - in abnormal desires, in the delusional ideas of a psychopath, in dreams, etc.

Freud's student Carl Jung introduces the concept of "archetype" into science, which he interprets as the basis of the collective unconscious, which determines the life and creative activity of an individual (population). Archetypes are passed on to a person by inheritance. They represent "technical forms of comprehension" of reality, therefore the symbols and images of a person's fantasy are determined by these archetypes. Jung argued that something new in human creativity is based on what is already known to mankind, i.e. on the archetype. He assigned a purely reproductive role to fantasy, he believed that it was not typical for it to create a new one.

Gestalt psychology made a serious attempt to introduce the problem of fantasy into a broader psychological context. She put forward the idea of ​​the integrity of a self-regulating system, which led her authors to the question of the possibility of erroneous decisions, options that are not related to the acquired knowledge and already developed skills. This idea was associated with the imagination and its features.

Imagination in the structure of mental processes

Imagination, based on images of perception, is at the same time its objective support, especially in the case when an object or its image with unclear outlines is perceived. Deepening the perception of an object with the help of imagination, in turn, depends on the clarity of the cognitive task.

There are also various internal relationships and complex relationships between the images of memory and imagination. Memory images are one of the essential foundations of imagination. The richer the content of memory and the more actively a person can operate with its images, the more favorable the psychological prerequisite for the development of the imagination. Images of imagination and emotional memory are closely connected. The recollection of the experienced activates the images of the recreating imagination; the abundance and dynamism of these images, in turn, increase the emotionality of a person.

Attention is a condition for regulating the activity of the imagination and increasing its cognitive level.

The connection between imagination and thinking has its own peculiarities. They have many similarities, but it would be erroneous to identify these mental processes.

The first difference concerns the tasks that these processes solve. The main task of the imagination is the transformation of past impressions into new ones. The task of thinking is the knowledge of truth. Thinking uses mental operations to solve its problems. The imagination has its own set of "techniques" for creating images of the imagination, such as hyperbolization, schematization, etc. There are limitations in the imagination associated with the volume of images that we operate with. From this point of view, the possibilities of thinking (especially verbal-logical) are unlimited.

However, these two processes are in reality inseparable unity. Their interconnection is manifested in the fact that in the most unbridled fantasizing there will inevitably be elements of mental activity, just as in the most rigorous reasoning elements of fantasy are inevitable.

Some psychologists believe that if thinking is “deprived” of imagination, then it will be creatively fruitless.

Quite often, a certain mental construction of a person is planned in advance by him as a result of the synthetic activity of thinking and imagination. Hypotheses are among them. In order to get the truth from hypotheses, it is necessary to get rid of everything fantastic, but at the same time we must not forget that the beginning of the creation of a hypothesis, like the entire scientific search, is the imagination of a scientist. Therefore, we can say that imagination, in a certain sense, is the beginning of mental activity.

Considering the process of creating images of the imagination, the researchers speak of two mechanisms underlying it. One has been defined as a "mechanism of devaluation", sometimes it is also called "axiomatization". In the process of creative imagination, a person eliminates side details, throws out ballast. Spearman spoke about the need for the “disappearance” of some part of knowledge as an important condition for creativity, noting that by removing unsuitable features, one can only increase the expressiveness of a work of art.

Description of work

Imagination is a special form of the human psyche, standing apart from other mental processes and at the same time occupying an intermediate position between perception, thinking and memory.
Imagination is a mental process that consists in creating new images (representations) by processing the material of perception and representations obtained in previous experience.