Dear Friends,
V. Zinchenko speaks of a "delta position," meaning that anything we say
is open to misinterpretation, and he states that it is normal, we should
expect it. And, the idea of "pseudo-concept" almost assures that
misunderstanding will occur within deeper levels of communication. This
is an integral part of the human experience. There are three things
going on for me that are interesting, and I would assume that they could
be combined, and I would hope the discussion could go faster:
1) The easiest aspect, and the one least discussed: really putting
various Russian psychological theories into practice within a
functional-relational aspect (right where we are). I would also like to
know what people are actually doing with the theory.
2) Trying to understand deeper theoretical/historical connections that
help in reflections today. I don't mean the level of stereotypes at all.
In fact, that is the exact opposite of what I am interested in, and
would like to prevent.
3) Emotional-experiential background ties to political
ideologies/systems: There is an explosive word that is used, and it is
"Stalinism," and that is something that I hope will be discussed, even
when it is very difficult. Carl did not live in Russia, but is very
affected by Stalinism in many ways (as are all of us). Anna grew up in
Russia and understands Stalinism more than most of us on this list could
ever imagine. I do think there is a tremendous difference having grown
up in the former Soviet Union and having left when young, than for many
others who are now old. Perhaps there were also no similarities to the
former East Germany, but I would have loved to have grown up in such a
warm, nuturing, caring, grounded, protected atmosphere as in the
GDR.....getting older, however, would have been difficult.. The former
Soviet Union was cut off from the West for a long time, and the little I
have seen (and still experience at the emotional level) is a sense of
what Anna was stating....a real feeling of working/living to build a new
society, and a new consciousness, etc. When visiting the Soviet Union in
the 1980s I was so inspired by what I saw in so many respects. Even
though a foreigner to it all, I felt a community and warmth I have truly
never felt in the West, and still feel that today very strongly.
Something, on a very different level, was totally right, from what I can
perceive, and I don't think it can be captured in words.
For me the functional-relational goals are to bring (1) theory into
practice, and to connect that with (2) deeper levels of understanding
via topical discussions that are to the point. And, with that (3) I am
trying to connect these points with what remains in Russia of an
atmosphere that I truly love (being aware of the problems involved in
history and currently). It seems important to connect CHAT psychologists
in Russia with people in the West so that they can get to know each
other, learn from each other, and struggle with the differences to come
closer to the similarities (and it is a real struggle). And what I have
discovered is that the word "Stalinism" runs very deep, usually it is
unspoken, and it still scares people away from Russia today. The real
irony is that visiting Moscow is so much safer than most American
cities. And, at ISCRAT in 1998 something scared people away from some of
the Russian papers of psychologists living in Russia , with only a
handful of people attending Asmolov's symposium, and only a couple of
people attending one of Rubtscov's talks. I feel that Anna's approach
of capturing a direction (not her words) is so important....and at the
same time, I feel that Carl should indeed be free to speak about the
repressive side, another reality. This is the type of discussion that
will allow us to better understand each other as people; and I would
hope it is also the type of discussion that would break down barriers
for people in CHAT to establish more interest in Russia, Russians today
(living in Russia), and what they have to offer to our understanding of
the theories we are discussing. There will be misunderstandings and
misinterpretations, and I think that we will still gain from such
information. This type of open discussion is not easy, but surely we are
learning more by combining different levels of communication, even when
they remain open to misinterpretation. I have a feeling that the
discussion will be slowed down now, but hope not.
Thanks,
Dot
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