Many branches of natural science put into practice the theory of functional systems of P. K. Anokhin, which is evidence of its universality. The academician is considered a student of I.P. Pavlov, only in his student years he was lucky to work under the strict guidance of V.M. Bekhterev. The influence of the fundamental views of these great scientists prompted P.K. Anokhin to create and substantiate a general theory of functional systems.
Historical background
Some of the results of Pavlov's research are still being studied in educational institutions. It should be noted that Darwin's theory has not been removed from the school curriculum, but concrete evidence has not been provided to the scientific community. It is perceived "on faith."
However, observations of the Earth’s ecosystem confirm that there is no interspecific struggle : plants share nutrients, moisture, distributing everything evenly.
In the animal kingdom, one can notice that individuals do not kill more than is necessary to ensure their vital functions. Animals that violate the natural balance of nature through abnormal behavior (for example, begin to kill everyone in a row), as sometimes happens with some representatives of the wolf pack, are exterminated by their own kindred.
Observing the primitive tribes that survived in the twentieth century, studying their culture, life can be concluded about a primitive man who felt, understood, knew that he was part of the environment. Killing some animal for food, he left something from the one killed by him, but not as a trophy, but as a reminder of someone's life spent to continue his.
This leads to the conclusion that the concept of community exists in ancient people, depending on various environmental factors.
Field of research of Peter Kuzmich
The theory of functional systems of P. K. Anokhin, on the contrary, is built on the basis of an extensive experimental base, a clearly structured methodology. However, the academician was led to this concept by many years of observation, practice, experiments, and theoretical study of the results. Not the last role in the formation of a systematic approach to the problem of purposeful activity was played by the results of the experiments of Pavlov, Ankylosing spondylitis, Sechenov. At the same time, the concept of functional systems cannot be called “copying” or “continuation” of the theories of these authors due to differences in methodology and general structure.
Methodological approaches of Pavlov and Anokhin
Upon a detailed examination of the concepts, one can notice that the positions of the methodology by the authors are understood and explained in completely different ways.
| Methodological principles used in the concepts of authors |
| P.K. Anokhin | I.P. Pavlov |
| The author does not support the concept of universality of methodology for all exact sciences. Emphasizes the importance of the influence of exogenous and endogenous factors on mental processes. | The universality of the methodology for studying the subject of all exact sciences is the main postulate of the scientific study of mental processes (most likely, this is an attempt to bring the study of consciousness to the level of "scientific" by mechanically transferring the methods of study from other areas of science). |
| Distinguishes the laws by which living matter and the inorganic world function. He substantiates his position by the presence of an “internal orientation towards survival” in living organisms, which is not characteristic of inanimate objects. | Mental processes, according to Pavlov, obey the laws governing the development and functioning of the material world. |
| Under the concept of "integrity" refers to the mobilization of the internal forces of the body to achieve a specific goal. | "Integrity" (close relationship) is manifested when exposed to external factors. |
The hierarchy of processes implies the presence of feedback, which implies the influence on the control center of the coordinated elements of the system. Based on these interactions, the steps of the hierarchical structure are distinguished: - molecular;
- cellular;
- organ and tissue;
- organismic;
- population-specific;
- ecosystem;
- biosphere.
| The organism is considered as being in each other levels of the organization. Hierarchy is considered as a vertical organization of management or a pyramidal organization of control centers without the possibility of a reverse influence of the downstream components of the system. |
| The mechanisms of reflection of reality are dynamic, and not static, add up due to various external factors, the programmed goal in a specific period of time. The body has the ability to anticipate reflection. | The conditioned and unconditioned reflexes according to Pavlov are manifested independently of other reactions of the body and consist of two processes - inhibition and activation. |
| Consciousness cannot be reduced to physiological reactions, arising on the basis of their development. | Elementary thinking arises from a combination of individual reflexes caused by a specific sensation or symbol. |
| Anokhin Petr Kuzmich, creator of the theory of functional systems, is based on the postulate "the law of a thing is in the thing itself." Therefore, all processes are controlled by patterns inherent only to them. Consequently, the structure of world laws resembles the principle of “nesting dolls”, and not “pyramids”. Since management occurs using different laws, the methods of study should be different. | The concept is based on the postulate “the law of a thing is outside of a thing”, which testifies to the independence of the law from a controlled process. At the same time, a hierarchy of subordination of laws is built (pyramid). Therefore, all processes are subject to universal laws with observance in animate, inanimate nature, mental formations. |
The above basic methodological principles of the authors allow us to conclude that they are "opposite." The theory of functional systems of Peter Anokhin cannot be a logical continuation of the materialist teachings of IP Pavlov.
The influence of the works of V. M. Bekhterev
The historical fact is the disagreement between the creator of Objective Psychology and Pavlov. Due to the vengefulness and pettiness of the latter, Bekhterev was not awarded the Nobel Prize.
The author of the theory of functional systems describes the functioning of the Pavlov school as voicing many hypotheses (taken for granted) against the background of one fundamental discovery (conditioned reflex). Indeed, the works of the famous physiologist (these are several volumes of Pavlovian environments) are a discussion with the staff of the main hypotheses and assumptions.
Pavlov’s scientific works were recognized by the world community and were, for their time, quite progressive, but the “reflexology” drawn up by Bekhterev possessed the lack of objectivity in Pavlov’s theory. She studied the influence of human physiology on his socialization and behavior.
It should be noted that after the mysterious death of Vladimir Mikhailovich, both “Reflexology” and “Objective Psychology”, as scientific trends, were “frozen”.
Studying the legacy of Ankylosing spondylitis, you can notice some general principles in the methodology of studying the subject. Noteworthy is the fact that the theoretical assumptions of both authors have always been based on practical research and observations. At the same time, Pavlov only allowed “devastating reviews” because of personal hostility.
The appearance of the concept, its development
The foundations of the theory of functional systems were laid back in the thirties of the twentieth century on the basis of the study of the interaction of central and peripheral nervous activity. Piotr Kuzmich got rich practical experience at the A.M. Gorky All-Union Institute of Experimental Medicine, which served as the basis for the creation of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences and the Leningrad Institute of Experimental Medicine in the forties.
The academician was able to study nervous activity not only at the general biological level. The first steps were taken in studies of the embryological aspects of the functioning of higher nervous activity. As a result, the structural and functional approaches in the theory of Anokhin systems are recognized as the most perfect. It highlights private mechanisms and their integration into a more complex system of a higher order.
Describing the structure of behavioral reactions, the academician came to the conclusion about integrating private mechanisms into a holistic behavioral act. This principle was called the "functional system." Not a simple sum of reflexes, but their combination into higher-order complexes, according to the theory of functional systems, initiates human behavior.
Using the same principles, one can consider not only complex behavioral reactions, but also individual motor acts. Self-regulation is the main effective principle in the theory of the Anokhin functional system. Achieving planned goals that benefit the body occurs through the interaction and self-regulation of the smaller components of the system.
The publication of Anokhin’s book “Philosophical Aspects of the Theory of a Functional System” includes selected works highlighting issues of natural and artificial intelligence, physiology and cybernetics, as well as system-forming factors.
Systemogenesis as the basis of theory
The definition of “functional system” describes how to obtain a useful result through the interaction of the elements of a wide constantly transforming distributed system. The universality of the theory of the functional system of P.K. Anokhin lies in its application in relation to any purposeful action.
From the point of view of physiology, functional systems are divided into two categories:
- The first of them is designed to maintain the constancy of the basic parameters of the body through self-regulation, for example, maintaining body temperature. In the event of any deviations, self-regulation of the internal environment starts.
- The second provides adaptation to the environment through communication with it, which regulates the change in behavior. It is this system that underlies various behavioral reactions. Information about changes in the external environment is a natural incentive to correct various behavioral forms.
The structure of the central system consists of successive stages:
- afferent synthesis (or “bringing” to the organ or nerve center);
- decision-making;
- an acceptor of the results of an action (or “acceptance” of the results of an action);
- efferent synthesis (“carrying”, transmitting impulses);
- action formation;
- assessment of the achieved result.
Different kinds of motives and needs (vital (thirst, hunger), social (communication, recognition), ideal (spiritual and cultural self-realization)) stimulate and correct the form of behavior. However, in order to enter the stage of purposeful activity, the action of “starting stimuli” is required, with the help of which the transition to the decision-making stage takes place.
This stage is implemented on the basis of programming the results of future actions through attracting individual human memory in relation to surrounding objects and methods of action to achieve the goal.
Goal setting in theory
The identification of the goal of behavior in the theory of the Anokhin functional system is a key point. Both positive and negative leading emotions are directly related to goal setting. They set the vector and help highlight the goals of behavior, laying the foundations of morality from the standpoint of the theory of functional systems. Situational emotions act as a behavioral regulator at this stage of achieving the goal and can provoke a rejection of the goal or a change in the plan to achieve the desired.
The principles of the theory of the functional system of PK Anokhin are based on the assertion of the impossibility of equating a sequence of reflexes with purposeful behavior. Behavior differs from the chain of reflexes in the presence of a systematized structure based on programming actions with the help of anticipatory reflection of reality. Comparison of the results of actions with the program and other related processes determine the purposefulness of behavior.
Functional System Diagram
Theory of Academician and Cybernetics
Cybernetics is the science of the laws of control processes in various systems. Cybernetics methods are used in cases where a collision of a system with the environment caused certain changes (adjustments) in the ways the system itself behaves.
It is easy to see that there are certain facets of contact between cybernetics and the theory of functional systems of Anokhin. Briefly describe the attitude of Peter Kuzmich to a new science in those days. He is rightly called the propagandist and developer of cybernetics issues. This is evidenced by the articles included in the collection "Philosophical aspects of the theory of a functional system."
The book “Selected Works. Cybernetics of functional systems. " It describes in detail the issues and problems of cybernetics and their possible solution using the theory of functional systems, which is given as the main principle of control among biological systems.
The role of P.K. Anokhin in the development of a systems approach is to substantiate a scientific theory with precise physiological argumentation, in contrast to its predecessors. Anokhin’s theory is a universal model of the body’s work that has precise formulations. It is also impossible to ignore the functioning of the model based on self-regulation processes.
The universality of the theory of functional systems is expressed in the possibility of studying the activity of systems of any complexity, since it has a well-developed structured model. With the help of numerous experiments, it was proved that the laws of cybernetics are characteristic of any functional systems included in living organisms.
Finally
The theory of Anokhin Pyotr Kuzmich, existing for more than fifty years, defines a person as a self-regulating system that is in unity with the outside world. On this basis, new theories about the occurrence of diseases and their treatment, as well as many psychological concepts, appeared.