Regulation of mental states through the experience of symbolic imagesN.B. Dmitrieva Key words: mental states, regulation, experience, reflection, image. In this work, we are exploring a person’s ability to regulate mental processes at the level of mental states, and through them to optimize the functional state of the entire organism. The problem of regulating mental states has been developed in both practical and theoretical psychology. This problem has not lost its relevance in recent years. And, in our opinion, it has even increased. This problem is especially relevant for future teachers: the younger generation should be raised and trained as physically and mentally healthy individuals. In order to teach students the basics of preserving, restoring and improving psychological health, the author conducts research and searches for new psychotechnologies for developing emotional stability of the individual. Our research has shown that the regulation of mental processes at the level of mental states is closely related to such concepts as regulation, self-regulation, experience, images , symbolic images. The main idea of ​​this study is to identify the relationship between such categories as image, experience, mental states. The purpose of the study is to combine the concept of A.O. Prokhorov about mental states, with the concept of L.R. Fakhrutdinova about human experiences for the development of psychotechnology for the regulation of mental states through the experience of symbolic images. To achieve this goal, we set the following tasks: to study the relationship of such concepts as mental states and experiences; to study the relationship of the concepts of experience and image; to study the relationship of the concepts of mental states, regulation, experiencing symbolic images, reflection. Let's consider the above concepts from the perspective of theoretical and practical psychology. Mental state as an independent category was first identified by V. N. Myasishchev (1932). But the first thorough attempt to substantiate the problem of mental states was made by N. D. Levitov, who published the monograph “On Human Mental States” in 1964. In subsequent years, a number of monographs were published (Genkin, Medvedev, 1973; Sosnovikova, 1975; Baevsky, 1979; Zabrodin, 1983; Nemchin, 1983; Simonov, 1983; Leonova, 1984; Danilova, 1985,1994; Chainova, 1986; Kitaev-Smyk , 1988; Kirshbaum, Eremeeva, 1994, 1998, 2005; Bodrov, 1995; person. The definitions of mental state available in the literature directly or indirectly emphasize the complexity, multicomponent, multi-level nature of human states as a mental phenomenon. It is these features of mental states that make them a difficult object of scientific study. A.O Prokhorov also points out the difficulties of research and diagnosis in his work [11]. Continuing his research, Prokhorov in his monograph [13] revealed the role of mental states in the state of the whole organism: “Since all levels of the human life system are interconnected, changes at any of them inevitably lead to changes in the entire system as a whole. It follows that by carrying out targeted regulation (control) of processes occurring at the level of mental states, it is possible to optimize the state of the entire system. Mental states in this case, in addition to the indicated function, acquire the function of a regulator of relationships, behavior, activity and even the functional state of the body.” Prokhorov divides mental states into: relatively equilibrium states and nonequilibrium states. Relatively equilibrium states include: satisfaction, calmness, sympathy, enlightenment, interest, cheerfulness, etc., i.e. positive states. To nonequilibrium statesinclude: aggression, rage, indignation, excitement, anger, fear, hatred, despair, embitterment, insult, jealousy, fear, stress, anxiety, horror, shock, etc., i.e. negative states. Psychological regulation, self-regulation . According to the dictionary [18], “regulate” means: “...2) to influence the operation of a mechanism and its parts, to achieve the desired course of any process.” Prokhorov gives the following definition of psychological regulation: “... when a person regulates his own mental sphere, we are dealing with mental regulation.” He speaks about self-regulation as follows: “As for self-regulation, as G.S. writes. Nikiforov [1986] adding the pronominal adjective “self” to one or another noun has a very definite word-formation meaning, the meaning of which is to indicate the direction of the action on the one who produces it.” Prokhorov gives such methods of regulating nonequilibrium states as regulation of attention, volitional regulation , intellectualization, relaxation, physical switching, breathing exercises. We put forward a hypothesis that can be expressed through a model: nonequilibrium state → experience of symbolic images → reflection → relatively equilibrium state. Experience in domestic academic psychology is represented quite fully only in the studies of F.E. Vasilyuk [3] and in the works of L.R. Fakhrutdinova [20; 21]. Considering the tasks set, we are interested in Fakhrutdinova’s monographs [20; 21], in which she provides materials from theoretical, experimental, and practical studies of the category of experience. The following conclusions are relevant to our ideas: “Experience is understood as a mental phenomenon, a given of a person’s inner life, through which the conscious self is connected with the nuclear, mostly unconscious structures of the subjective world”; “Experience interacts with mental processes and states, being for them a matrix, a carrier, a form, a given, being itself. Experience can be a mediating link, a psychological mechanism through which the interaction of mental processes and states occurs”; “Experience as a “buffer zone”, where changes accumulate to a certain “critical mass” and then a qualitative transition of state occurs” (emphasized by the author of the article). The following point is also of interest to us: the “cross-cutting” (emphasized by the author of the article) nature of experience, permeating all types of mental phenomena, the entire mental reality of the subject.” In the context of this article, the conclusion that Fakhrutdinova makes is important: “... the situation through trigger mechanisms (mental processes), then through an intermediate link (experience) exerts its influence on the mental state of the subject.” Also important for our research are Fakhrutdinova’s conclusions about reflection: “... the dynamics of the relationship between reflexive processes and experiences follows one of the paths associated with the gradual complication and transition of reflexive processes from the most elementary, primary levels to more complex ones. Experienced at first as a vague sensation, the experience for a person becomes increasingly obvious up to the most intellectual, sophisticated forms of introspection.” From the perspective of the research topic, we consider it possible to assume the following model: situation (stress, frustration, conflict, crisis, etc.) → nonequilibrium state → experiencing symbolic images → reflection → equilibrium state. Next, we will consider such concepts as image, symbolic image. Let us turn to the monograph “Theory of Experience” by Fakhrutdinova, who, classifying experiences in accordance with one category or another, notes: “... experience and image: fantasy as a form of experience... (according to R. D. Laing, C. G. Jung, etc. )". According to the complete encyclopedic reference book on psychology, “an image is a sensory form of a mental phenomenon, which ideally has a spatialorganization and time dynamics. The following types of figurative phenomena are distinguished. 1. O. perception, 2. O. representation, 3. O. imagination.” In the regulation of mental states, images of representation and imagination are used. For our research, the view of Petrovsky and Yaroshevsky on the image is important [14]: “Many theoretical and experimental directions have enriched the category of mental image. But, as has been repeatedly emphasized, this category does not work outside the system of others. Hidden behind the objective image revealed to consciousness is the objective action, the motive that prompts it, the subject’s attitude towards other people, as well as the personal significance and experience of the information folded in the image – sensory and mental” (emphasized by the author of the article). The importance of this category is also noted by Martsinkovskaya [5]: “Considering the development of the image, psychologists came to the conclusion about the relationship between the images of the sensory and mental. The study of this connection, as well as the combination of a mental image and a word, has been and remains one of the most important problems of psychology.” And further: “...for psychology, the question of the degree of awareness of images is of particular interest, since both the unconscious and the superconscious play no less important roles than consciousness.” The author of this article believes that academic psychology has not developed the topic of the influence of the experience of voluntary and involuntary images on mental states, although it is widely used in practical psychology (Leiner H., Lazarus A., Stewart V, L.P. Grimak, I.H. Shultz, E.I. Zuev, A.F. Ermoshin, E.V. Lopukhina, E.L. Mikhailova, T.D. Zinkevich-Evstigneeva, etc.). All authors attach great importance to working with images, and it is when experiencing “sensory images”, “archetype images” that positive changes occur in the psyche: feelings change: feelings accompanying nonequilibrium states are replaced by feelings regarding equilibrium states. “Sensual images”, “archetype images” are symbols. Currently, most psychologists, including those conducting research in the mainstream of academic psychology, recognize the fact that the psyche is a complex, multi-level system that consists of conscious and unconscious levels. Unconscious levels are divided into levels from which material can move to a conscious level (awareness, reflection), and a level whose material is represented symbolically. For our research, another concept mentioned earlier is important - archetype. The collective unconscious contains archetypes that express themselves as universal primitive images accumulated over centuries across cultures. An archetype in relation to the collective unconscious is the same as a complex in relation to the personal unconscious. Since the material of the collective unconscious never existed in the conscious, it is not repressed [19]: “...Archetypes tend to group around basic or universal incidents in life, such as birth, marriage, motherhood, death and separation). Archetypes remain hidden until they are recognized and realized, and carry a strong charge of energy that the individual finds difficult to resist. Archetypes awaken feelings, obscure realities and master the will. All mental images penetrate to some extent into the archetypal.” We put forward a hypothesis that in crisis situations, it is the increased influence of archetypes that leads to an unbalanced state, which a person is not always able to change on his own. Working with images, a person moves into and out of the collective unconscious, when images evoked from the collective unconscious are brought to the surface, charged with strong feelings and, experiencing these feelings, further reflecting them, a person comes to a relatively balanced state. To study the influence of experiencing symbolic of images on mental states, an empirical study was organized. Research scheme: psychodiagnostics of a mental state in a group; selection of individuals who have been identified as having an unbalanced state; conducting 8-10 sessions of working with images using the method).