Reconsidering the "Uznadze Effect" and psychology of set (Gantskoba) from a systemic cultural psychological perspective.

Abstract

This article aims to (re)introduce and further develop Dimitri Uznadze's theory of psychological "set" from the perspective of contemporary cultural psychology. His ideas are prominent in Georgia and other post-Soviet countries; however, they might be totally new for psychologists from other parts of the world. Uznadze, unlike Vygotksy, still awaits to be rediscovered. I discuss the main theoretical premises and features of the formation of a psychological "set," according to Uznadze, which were based on his interpretations of his rich experimental data. Uznadze conceived the psychological "set" as a holistic phenomenon determining human conduct and strongly opposed reductionist, vitalist, and behavioristic approaches. Subsequently, a more person-centered and systemic view of set formation and its relation to human conduct is briefly considered. Further directions for Uznadze's experimental data's theoretical consideration are also identified. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).