The stages in the development of the human psyche became known largely due to the study of animal consciousness. Descartes laid the foundation for anthropopsychism. This theory suggests that the psyche is a phenomenon peculiar only to man. Consciousness recognizes biopsychism as a property of living matter . The connection between the psyche and the nervous system is indicated by such a direction of science as neuropsychism, and panpsychism gives spirituality to all living and nonliving things.
In modern times, the science of psychology is based on the emergence and development of consciousness in the presence of evolution of matter and, based on the knowledge gained, identifies the basic stages of the development of the psyche. Matter is endowed with a property such as reflection, which implies the interpenetrating joint action of objects. A manifestation of reflection is the ability to respond to external stimuli.
The form of existence of matter and the characteristics of external stimuli determine the nature of the reaction. Physical reflection is, for example, a footprint in the sand or a mirror image. Chemical reflection can be represented as the receipt of a new substance by combining the two source materials, and biological - this is the transition of inorganic matter to organic. The simplest form of biological reflection inherent in living organisms is irritability.
Leontiev defines the embryonic form of psychic reflection with sensitivity. Its distinctive feature is the occurrence of a reaction to an irritant that does not directly participate in the metabolism. The occurrence of sensitivity is due to the signaling nature of reflection, which makes it possible to display an active reaction to a changing environment and to develop individually isolated behavioral reactions. This stage of development characterizes the presence of sensory organs, movement and a coordinating organ, that is, the nervous system. The stages of development of the psyche begin precisely with this, the primary stage of the elementary sensory psyche. Partial reflection of the properties of objects, rather than the object as a whole, as well as the instinctive form of perception is also characteristic.
Stages of the development of the psyche in phylogenesis
Thanks to the evolution and development of living organisms, the nervous system becomes more complex, the brain and spinal cord, the cerebral cortex are formed, and finally the brain develops. The cerebral cortex analyzes the information that the environment conveys, is guided by changes and forms a new behavior. The stages of development of the psyche receive another step - the stage of the perceptual (perceiving) psyche, which is already prone to perceive the situation in general: it becomes possible to respond to several stimuli at once and make up the big picture. In addition to instincts, skills are developed that are a chain of learned movements to achieve a particular goal. The link between the cerebral cortex and persistent skills must be emphasized. The most highly organized vertebrates (squad of primates) develop further, and they observe intellectual behavior.
The stage of intelligence (manual thinking) is characterized by a significant complication and development of the central nervous system and, naturally, an increase in the brain. It is also characterized by a fairly conscious behavior and the use of tools and other types of products. But instincts and skills do not lose their significance, playing an important role in life.
The stages of development of the psyche of animals at this level end, giving way to the development of human consciousness. Man, being the tip of the pyramid of all living organisms, has not only a developed brain, but also numerous mental capabilities (logical and consistent thinking, fantasies, and more).