Central theoretical alternatives in the development of systemic-activity cultural-historical psychology

The article discusses alternative hypotheses, the consistent confirmation and refutation of which led to the construction of the research subject and theoretical foundations of systemactivity cultural-historical psychology. Hypotheses that have radically changed the ideas about the research subject of psychology and the main directions of the analysis of mental phenomena in the USSR are highlighted. 1) The hypothesis about the actualization and development of mental functions / processes not within the organism (nervous system, brain), but between the organism and the objective conditions of the surrounding world / environment. Mental functions / processes are constructed and reproduced as an orienting basis for objective actions as part of the areas of life activity realized by the organism. 2) The hypothesis that physiological, neurophysiological and biochemical processes in organs and tissues adapt to the methods of orientation and organization of objective actions actively constructed by the organism. The material substrate of mental actions in humans are functional systems of physiological (and neurophysiological) processes that: a) adapt to possible methods of orientation and organization of possible actions in possible objective conditions; b) are constructed and reproduced with the help of linguistic and other sign-symbolic means. As a result, motivationally attractive directions of life activity actively implemented by animal organisms based on the processes of consistent goal-setting and goal achievement are distinguished as the main units of analysis of the psyche