On the Concept of Perezhivanie: A Quest for a Critical Review

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Part of the Perspectives in Cultural-Historical Research book series (PCHR, volume 1)

Abstract

Vygotsky’s concept of perezhivanie was only partly developed within his lifetime, and this fact, together with the apparent significance of the concept, has provided the impetus for attempts at further understanding and substantiating the concept. This introductory chapter provides an overview of interpretations of perezhivanie . I begin first with a brief history of its origins in Stanislavsky, dialectics and reflection theory. Next, I discuss three aspects of Vygotsky’s work (and work built on its foundations) that have been related to perezhivanie in attempts to illuminate its meaning: his early interest in emotion in The Psychology of Art, the concepts of social situation of development and word-meaning and its interpretation within Activity Theory. The interpretive landscape that is revealed provides a point of departure for theorists seeking to understand and use the concept.

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© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Monash UniversityMelbourneAustralia

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