Abstract
This chapter explores possible ways of connecting subjectivity and perezhivanie on both an empirical and a theoretical/methodological level of analysis. It begins with elaborating two meanings of perezhivanie which exist in the original texts of Vygotsky—perezhivanie as a psychological phenomenon (P1) and perezhivanie as a concept in cultural-historical theory (P2). Perezhivanie as an empirical and observable psychological phenomenon might bring new ways of understanding of how subjectivity works since perezhivanie is a complex nexus of various psychological processes and should not be reduced to pure emotional experiencing. In certain sense, perezhivanie is an empirically observable manifestation of subjectivity. This makes an analysis of children’s concrete perezhivanie a powerful tool for studying how subjectivity works. It shows that a child’s subjectivity, the individual subjective configuration of the child, is no less powerful in defining the course of her individual unique developmental trajectory than the objective characteristics of her social environment. On the other hand, the concept of subjectivity might bring a new dimension into the empirical studies of perezhivanie. Perezhivanie as a concept within the cultural-historical theory (P2) is not an empirically observable phenomenon; it is a theoretical tool for analysis of the influence of social environment on the course of child development. New concepts of the micro-social situation of development and of dramatic perezhivanie are introduced, and an opportunity to investigate theoretical and methodological links between the concept of perezhivanie and subjectivity is discussed.
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Notes
- 1.
Translated as “experience” in English translation (Vygotsky 1998, p. 294).
- 2.
Translated as “external” in English translation (Vygotsky 1998, p. 294).
- 3.
For example, “work experience” in Russian is opyt raboty (опыт работы).
- 4.
Moment (момент) in the Russian original (Vygotsky 2001, p. 72) is not factor, but rather a certain component, a part or particular aspect of a situation or an event.
- 5.
The same moments in Russian original.
- 6.
- 7.
Vygotsky uses the word черпать (to scoop) in Russian original text, like scooping water from the well.
- 8.
In the Russian original, the expression « предмет большой привязанности » (object of great/intensive attachment) is used (Vygotsky 2001, p. 73–74).
- 9.
In the Russian text « источник самых тяжёлых впечатлений » (a source of all kinds of … terrible impressions for the child) is used (Ibid). Nothing is said about emotional experience or perezhivanie in this sentence.
- 10.
In the Russian original “страшной привязанности к ней и страшной ненависти к ней” (a terrific attachment to her and an equally terrific hate for her). The word страшной here means the degree of attachment (“deep”, “intensive”, “strong”, “terrific”), not the character of it (“dangerous” or “terrible”).
- 11.
In the original Russian text, the verb perezhival (переживал) is used. This is the past singular grammatical form of the verb perezhivat' (переживать), from which the noun perezhivanie has been derived.
- 12.
In the Russian original text « у троих детей возникло три разных переживания одной и той же ситуации » (three different perezhivanie of the same situation appeared in three children) (Vygotsky Vygotsky 2001, p. 74–75).
- 13.
In the Russian text, the word моменты (moments) is used: существенными моментами для определения влияния среды … (Vygotsky Vygotsky 2001, p. 72). Factor in Russian is фактор.
- 14.
An extended and deep analysis of relationship of the cultural-historical theory and dialectics is undertaken in Dafermos (Dafermos 2015).
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Veresov, N. (2019). Subjectivity and Perezhivanie: Empirical and Methodological Challenges and Opportunities. In: González Rey, F., Mitjáns Martínez, A., Magalhães Goulart, D. (eds) Subjectivity within Cultural-Historical Approach. Perspectives in Cultural-Historical Research, vol 5. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-3155-8_4
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