What is concrete psychology? Contributions by Lev S. Vigotski

Abstract

This paper aims to corroborate the answer to what is concrete psychology, having as reference Vygotsky's propositions. To this end, presents introductory elements of the critique made by this author to the traditional psychology in the essay “The historical meaning of the crisis in psychology. A methodological investigation”, as well as its defense of a concrete, scientific psychology. Then, using the historical and dialectical materialism of Vigotski's psychology, this paper presents a systematization of the concrete psychology's fundamental characteristics, namely: the materialist approach; the realization that the basis of all social relations are the relations of production; the call to fight against the objective and subjective conditions that alienate work and workers and, finally, the adoption of the dialectical materialist method. In conclusion, these elements are illustrated in how Vigotski discusses the need to formulate a unique psychology; in the ontological and gnosiological focus given to the development of the human psyche as well as through the concept of “life experience”, considered by the author as an indissoluble unit between person and social situation of development.