Alexander Luria's Psychological Conflict - Case Study Example

An Analysis of the Nature of Human Conflicts The defining element of Luria’s notions of human conflict is the belief that there exists a barrier between the higher and lower functions of the human mind, and the human being as a whole. According to Luria, conflict arises when there is a differential association between the higher cognitive processes of the human mind and the lower functions. The higher self (thought processes) strives to exist with humanity and peace, guided by logic and reason. The lower self (thought processes), which is closely associated with survival needs, works under a different criteria than the higher self. According to Luria, the resulting diffusion between the higher faculties and the lower faculties result in a state of frustration and uncontrolled emotional states, that serves to hinder one’s judgment and perception of reality. A Structural – Functionalist perspective of Luria’s work holds that deviations from the norms and values held within one’s conscious and sub-conscious mind are reinforced by environmental conditions, as well as the perceived needs that that the individual desires to fulfill. Deviations from what is valued as right and proper are met with conscious and subconscious fears and resistance to entering unfamiliar moral ground. Luria’s studies make it abundantly clear that much of the inner turmoil experienced by individuals can be traced to the inner conflict between perceived structural integrity, and the functionalism that is required by the lower faculties’ perception of survival needs. There are two dimensions of the ethereal bond, which are mental integration and mental regulation, which are for the most part interdependent. According to Luria those who have total mental integrity, integration, and coordination fall under the category of existing in an altruistic state of being, which results in a more humane approach to environmental conditions. Those who exist in a more unregulated state of being tend to exist in a state that is more egotistical in nature, with the morals and norms of the higher faculties being of lesser importance. The resulting strain experienced by those experiencing the conflict between their higher and lower mental functions lead to a state of excitation, which often result in violent and primitive behavior. The primitive behavior expressed by Luria, can result in violence and other criminal acts that presently impact society as a whole. Luria’s studies are supported by Robert K. Merton in the form of strain theory, which demonstrates the physical results of the inner processes of psychological tension, as well as the external tension that society may place on an individual. “The cultural-historical psychological theory of Alexander R. Luria (Luriya) and his colleagues is based on the philosophical foundations of historical materialism. It argues in particular that Luria’s psychology, neuropsychology, and brain theory are integrated in the same scientific research program and are based on the same philosophical premises, and that his theories must be interpreted in the Marxist context in which they are embedded. The Nature of Human Conflict as well as Luria’s research program asserts that the development of higher mental functions depends on the appropriation of cultural means, particularly language, within social practice. Moreover brain structures underlying mental functions are also dependent on the appropriation of cultural means. Luria’s clinical diagnosis and his program from rehabilitation of patients with brain lesions are based on his psychological theory and brain theory. Luria’s work in the area will show that a socio-cultural non-reductive explanation of mental functions and their underlying brain structures may have implications for the philosophical discussion of the mind-brain problem” (Eilam, 2003). The socio-cultural dimensions of mental functions are of paramount importance in analyzing The Nature of Human conflict, due in part to the large effect that environmental conditions have on the id, ego, and alter ego of many individuals. Luria’s approach to understanding the nature of human conflict, took an all encompassing approach to the study of the catalysts to the formation of the state of conflict within the individual. What is striking about Luria’s work, is the fact that Luria did not simply concentrate on the psychological aspects of the root causes of human conflict, but engaged in a methodology that exposed the mind, body, environment connection in the development of inner conflict and turmoil within the individual, as well as the subsequent external conflicts which often arise out of the individual’s inability to control and or alleviate the causes of his inner conflict. Luria expressed the idea that the external world could have a profound effect on the physiological processes that take place within an individual, which are linked to the resulting neuropsychological processes within the individual. Luria’s mind –body approach to neuropsychology, and his study of environmental influences on the formation of an individual’s psychological condition are very old concepts, which have been studied and analyzed in one form or another by many different cultures. The Chinese Taoists have studied the mind-body-environment connection for centuries, and have developed a unique approach to achieving a desired balance between the body and mind. The Chinese approach shares many similarities with Luria’s scientific approach to the study of the causes of conflict within human beings. The Chinese developed a philosophy similar to Luria’s concerning the concept of the internal tension between the higher and lower faculties of the mind, but with a more esoteric twist. Luria’s work dealt more with the brain as an organ that contained both neuropsychological aspects as well as physiological aspects or characteristics, whereas the Chinese took the view that the brain was composed of neuropsychological, physiological, and ethereal energetic , properties. The Chinese believed that mental health and stability is dependant on the health of the body as a whole, which can not be treated separately in the diagnosis and cure of mental instability. In practice neuropsychologists tend to work in academia ( involved in basic or clinical research), clinical settings involved in assessing or treating patients with neuropsychological problems, and other areas psychology of which Luria’s work was the catalyst for modern psychological studies The Chinese studies of the internal /external relationship of the psychological state of individuals are older, but Luria’s work must be viewed as the foundation for Western studies of the development of inner conflict within the individual in response to environmental conditions. Luria’s approach to the study of human conflict uses methods from experimental psychology, to uncover the relationship between the nervous system and cognitive function. The majority of work involved studying healthy humans in a laboratory setting, although a minority of researchers may conduct animal experiments. Human work in this area often takes advantage of specific features of our nervous system (for example that visual information presented to a specific visual field is prudentially processed by the cortical hemisphere on the opposite side) to make links between neuroanatomy and psychological function. Luria’s approach included an analysis of how cognitive function could be negatively affected by inner tension between the higher and lower function of the brain, as well as the resulting damage suffered by the nervous system as a result of repeated instances of excitability within the individual due the diffused mental state of the individual. Luria took a clinical approach to analyzing and interpreting the degree of conflict within an individual, in order to formulate much of his theoretical framework. Clinical neuropsychology is the application of neuropsychological knowledge to the assessment, management, and rehabilitation of people who have suffered illness or injury (particularly to the brain) which has caused neurocognitive problems. In particular they bring a psychological viewpoint to treatment, to understand how such illness and injury may affect and be affected by psychological factors. Luria made breakthroughs in the manner in which clinical neuropsychology could be used as a manner in which to assess, manage, and the treat the ills resulting from psychological conflict. Cognitive neuropsychology was another area in which Luria set the stage for further study of the nature of human conflict. Luria was an advocate of developing theories of how injuries and neurological illness could effect the development of conflict within individuals and vice versa. Cognitive neuropsychology is a relatively new development and has emerged as a distillation of the complementary approaches of both experimental and clinical neuropsychology. It seeks to understand the mind and brain by studying people who have suffered brain injury or neurological illness. One model of neuropsychological functioning is known as functional localization. This is based on the principle that if cognitive problem can be found after an injury to a specific area of the brain, it is possible that this part of the brain is in some way involved. However, there may be reason to believe that the link between mental functions and neural regions is not so simple. An alternative model of the link between mind and brain, such as parallel processing, may have more explanatory power for the workings and dysfunction of the human brain. Yet another approach investigates how the pattern of errors produced by brain-damaged individuals can constrain our understanding of mental representations and processes without reference to the underlying neural structure. A more recent but related approach is cognitive neuropsychiatry which seeks to understand the normal function of mind and brain by studying psychiatric or mental illness. Luria was a pioneer in the use of both experimental and clinical neuropsychology in his study of the inner psychological conflicts within human beings, as well as developing theories on their possible causes. Luria’s work focused on many psychological aspects, as his knowledge of the basis of human conflict. Once the inner conflict of the individual reached a certain level, the excitability experienced by an individual with a diffused control mechanism between the higher and lower cognitive functions can develop into a neurotic event. The neurosis experienced by those who have existed in a state of excitability for prolonged periods of time, can result in many dysfunctional behaviors, including criminal acts. Luria’s studies and findings concerning the possible deviant actions of those who experience prolonged states of excitability have helped to foster the development of the field of abnormal psychology. Abnormal psychology is the study of abnormal behavior in order to describe, predict, explain, and change abnormal patterns of functioning. Abnormal psychology studies the nature of psychopathology and its causes, and this knowledge is applied in clinical psychology to treat a patient with psychological disorders. In the study if abnormal behavior. It can be difficult to define the line between which behaviors are considered normal and which are not. In general, abnormal behaviors must be maladaptive and cause an individual subjective discomfort (signs of emotional distress). Generally, abnormal behaviors are classified as: 1. Abnormal as in “frequent” in relation to the overall population. 2. Abnormal as in “maladaptive”. The behavior fails to promote well being, growth, and fulfillment of a person. 3. Abnormal as in “deviant”. The behavior is not socially acceptable. 4. Abnormal as in “unjustifiable”. The behavior that cannot be rationalized” (Psychology – Wikipedia) Luria’s work on the nature of human conflict is paramount in the making linkages between the inner tension that an individual is experiencing, and the resulting physiological affects that this conflict is having on an individual. Luria furthered studies on the linkages between the physiological results of inner conflict, and the negative actions that result from the inability of an individual to cope with physiological turmoil. Luria’s linkages between the physiological turmoil and negative actions, helped to increase awareness of the importance of biological psychology in ascertaining the root causes of human conflict. “Biological psychology is the scientific study of the biological bases of behavior and mental states. Because all behavior is controlled by central nervous system, it is sensible to study how the brain functions in order to understand behavior. That is the approach taken in behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, and neuropsychology. Neuropsychology is the branch of psychology that aims to understand how the structure and function of the brain relate to specific behavioral and psychological processes. Often neuropsychologists are employed s scientists to advance scientific or medical knowledge. Neuropsychology is particularly concerned with the understanding of brain injury in an attempt to work out normal psychological function. The approach of cognitive psychology is to study the link between the brain and behavior, and to use neuroimaging tools to observe which areas of the brain are active during a particular task. It is indeed amazing, that Luria was able to postulate that there was a dysfunction between different areas in the brain during the process of conflict within an individual, before neuroimaging tools were available. Luria’s work gives detailed accounts of how thought is influenced by language and social structure, which can sometimes lead to psychological tension between the thoughts influenced by language and social structure, and those of cerebellum based instinctual /survival thought patterns. Luria’s work makes it clear that the quality of cognitive thought processes can be adversely affected by the uncoordinated efforts of the higher and lower level areas of the brain. Luria’s work is instrumental in further development of the area known as cognitive psychology. “The nature of thought is another core interest in psychology. Cognitive psychology studies cognition, the mental processes underlying behavior. It uses information processing as a framework for understanding the mind. Perception, learning, problem solving, memory, attention, language and emotion are well researched areas. Cognitive psychology is associated with a school of thought known as cognitivism, whose adherents argue for an information processing model of mental function, informed by positivism and experimental psychology. Cognitive science is a conjoined enterprise of cognitive psychologists, neurologists, workers in artificial intelligence, logicians, linguists, and social scientists, and places a slightly greater emphasis on computational theory and formalization. Both areas can use computational models to stimulate phenomena of interest. Because mental events cannot directly be observed, computational models provide a tool for studying the functional organization of the mind. Such models give cognitive psychologists a way to study the “software” of mental processes independent of the “hardware” it runs on, be it the brain or a computer. Defining aspects of Luria’s work is his development of a theoretical methodology that identifies the processes that foster the social behavior of individuals, who are in a conflicted and dysfunctional psychological state. Luria’s work is instrumental in mapping the path of social dysfunction displayed by individuals that has its roots in inner conflict and turmoil. Most studies emphasize the social conditions that may influence counterproductive behavior, but Luria’s work goes a step further and links one’s behavior in society with a state of inner conflict and irresolution of this conflict. Luria’s work is lays a foundation for the study of social psychology. Social psychology is the scientific study of the nature and causes of human social behavior and mental processes, with an emphasis on how people think towards each other and how they relate to each other. Social Psychology aims to understand how we make sense of social situations. For example, this could involve the influence of others on an individual’s behavior (e.g., conformity or persuasion), the perception and understanding of social cues, or formation of attitudes or stereotypes about other people. Social cognition is a common approach and involves a mostly cognitive and scientific approach to understanding social behavior Luria’s work is instrumental in any study of the affects of social influences on the mental states of individuals. Many of the dysfunctional mental processes examined by Luria have roots in societal ills and vice versa. The dismantling of the control mechanism alluded to in Luria’s studies, is usually the result of outside stressors that hinder an individual’s ability to achieve self actualization. When one’s goals and or desires are not able to be met because of outside influences, a state of inner turmoil usually results, which affects the individual both mentally and physically. The stress of not being able reach desired goals can easily increase ones reluctance to follow the higher mental faculties, and resort to a lower level survival oriented mode of operation. Luria noted that increased excitability within individuals suffering from inner conflicts of any kind, are detrimental to his/her neuropsychological health. According to Luria increased instances of stress, inner conflict, and excitability result in increased neurological damage to the individual. Luria’s findings were instrumental to increasing emphasis in the study of clinical psychology, in attempts to alleviate some the causes of inner conflict. “Clinical psychology includes the study and application of psychology for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction, and to promote subjective well-being and personal development” (Psychology – Wikipedia). Luria’s work is instrumental in helping to further scientific advances in identifying, treating, and preventing psychological illness. References Elam, G. “The Philosophical Foundations of Alexander R. Luria’s Neuropsychology”, The Cambridge University Press, 2003. Read More

“The cultural-historical psychological theory of Alexander R. Luria (Luriya) and his colleagues is based on the philosophical foundations of historical materialism. It argues in particular that Luria’s psychology, neuropsychology, and brain theory are integrated in the same scientific research program and are based on the same philosophical premises, and that his theories must be interpreted in the Marxist context in which they are embedded. The Nature of Human Conflict as well as Luria’s research program asserts that the development of higher mental functions depends on the appropriation of cultural means, particularly language, within social practice.

Moreover brain structures underlying mental functions are also dependent on the appropriation of cultural means. Luria’s clinical diagnosis and his program from rehabilitation of patients with brain lesions are based on his psychological theory and brain theory. Luria’s work in the area will show that a socio-cultural non-reductive explanation of mental functions and their underlying brain structures may have implications for the philosophical discussion of the mind-brain problem” (Eilam, 2003).

The socio-cultural dimensions of mental functions are of paramount importance in analyzing The Nature of Human conflict, due in part to the large effect that environmental conditions have on the id, ego, and alter ego of many individuals. Luria’s approach to understanding the nature of human conflict, took an all encompassing approach to the study of the catalysts to the formation of the state of conflict within the individual. What is striking about Luria’s work, is the fact that Luria did not simply concentrate on the psychological aspects of the root causes of human conflict, but engaged in a methodology that exposed the mind, body, environment connection in the development of inner conflict and turmoil within the individual, as well as the subsequent external conflicts which often arise out of the individual’s inability to control and or alleviate the causes of his inner conflict.

Luria expressed the idea that the external world could have a profound effect on the physiological processes that take place within an individual, which are linked to the resulting neuropsychological processes within the individual. Luria’s mind –body approach to neuropsychology, and his study of environmental influences on the formation of an individual’s psychological condition are very old concepts, which have been studied and analyzed in one form or another by many different cultures.

The Chinese Taoists have studied the mind-body-environment connection for centuries, and have developed a unique approach to achieving a desired balance between the body and mind. The Chinese approach shares many similarities with Luria’s scientific approach to the study of the causes of conflict within human beings. The Chinese developed a philosophy similar to Luria’s concerning the concept of the internal tension between the higher and lower faculties of the mind, but with a more esoteric twist.

Luria’s work dealt more with the brain as an organ that contained both neuropsychological aspects as well as physiological aspects or characteristics, whereas the Chinese took the view that the brain was composed of neuropsychological, physiological, and ethereal energetic , properties. The Chinese believed that mental health and stability is dependant on the health of the body as a whole, which can not be treated separately in the diagnosis and cure of mental instability. In practice neuropsychologists tend to work in academia ( involved in basic or clinical research), clinical settings involved in assessing or treating patients with neuropsychological problems, and other areas psychology of which Luria’s work was the catalyst for modern psychological studies The Chinese studies of the internal /external relationship of the psychological state of individuals are older, but Luria’s work must be viewed as the foundation for Western studies of the development of inner conflict within the individual in response to environmental conditions.

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