The author reports on a symposium on the concept of the unconscious held
in Tbilisi, U.S.S.R., in October 1979 to which Western scientists,
including psychoanalysts, were invited. He provides a brief historical
review of Soviet psychology, then describes the more recent emergence of
two distinct groups--"psychologists" and "antipsychologists." The
"psychologists" are aware of the need for improved understanding of
unconscious motivations; the "antipsychologists" maintain the
physiology-oriented tradition of Pavlov. The author contrasts current
Soviet views of the unconscious with those of Freud and his followers and
provides an up-to-date report on current Soviet attitudes through January
1981.
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