Editorial

Zinchenko, Yu. P. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia Federal Scientific Center of Psychological and Interdisciplinary Research, Moscow, Russia

The current issue of “Psychology in Russia: State of the Art” provides diverse papers on theory and methodology, social psychology and such multidisciplinary topics as cognitive psychology, psychophysiology and clinical psychology.

The Theory and Methodology section deals with three topics. Firstly, purely methodological complex issues are discussed in the works by Aleksandr M. Chernorizov, Aleksandr G. Asmolov and Eugeniya D. Schechter as well as Irina A. Mironenko and Pavel S. Sorokin. Aleksandr M. Chernorizov and his collaborators apply the frame of postnonclassical methodology to interdisciplinary research creating the linkage between neuroscience and cultural psychology and shifting the research focus “from physiological psychology to psychological physiology”. Irina A. Mironenko and Pavel S. Sorokin analyze perennial problems and the contemporary methodological crisis through the lens of culture in psychology.

Secondly, two research groups present their applied elaborations of methodological issues. Galina Ya. Menshikova, Yury P. Zinchenko, Artem I. Kovalev and Larisa A. Shaigerova suggest the ways for application of virtual reality technologies in social research from the postnonclassical methodology’s standpoint. Maria M. Danina, Natalya V. Kiselnikova, Eugeniya A. Kuminskaya, Elena V. Lavrova and Svetlana V. Markova describe theoretical approaches to using films as a means to increase the communication efficiency for those involved in theeducational process.

Finally, Anastasia E. Vorobieva and Anastasia A. Akbarova provide an analysis and perspectives of studying the basic and special types of self-determination according to A.L. Zhuravlev and A.B. Kupreichenko’s concept, thus making noteworthy Russian developments available to international readers.

Russian developments available to international readers. The Psychophysiology and Cognitive Psychology section presents a range of empirical studies. Maria S. Kovyazina, Nikita A. Khokhlov and Natalia V. Morozova investigated the connection of hemispheric activity in the field of audioverbal perception and the progressive lateralization of speech and motor processes. Oksana S. Saakyan performed an electrophysiological analysis of the cognitive component of social creativity in young males and females with different individual characteristics. Ludmila A. Verbitskaya, Sergey B. Malykh, Yury P. Zinchenko and Tatyana N. Tikhomirova outlined cognitive predictors of success in learning Russian in native-speaker students in the contexts of taking the Basic State Exam (9th grade) and the Unified State Exam (11th grade). The works have both scientific and practical significance since the Unified Exams are still an emerging educational practice in Russia.

The “Clinical psychology” section contains articles on various clinical issues. Marina A. Kholodnaya and Andrey A. Emelin investigated the resource function of conceptual and metacognitive abilities in adolescents with different forms of dysontogenesis. Olga G. Lopukhova and Elena V. Kashshapova researched the peculiarities of fear of childbirth in pregnant women and related external and internal factors. Helena A. Petrova, Olga O. Zavarzina, Irina P. Kytianova and Roman V. Kozyakov outlined social and personal factors of stable remission for people with drug addictions in various rehabilitation programs including 12 Steps, state and religious (orthodox) rehabilitation centers.

The Social Psychology section is represented with articles on youths in a range of social contexts. Olga V. Kruzhkova, Irina V. Vorobyeva, Tatyana I. Bruner and Marina S. Krivoshchekova figured out the differences in the value sphere of native and newcomer youth in their subjective assessment of a megacity environment. Vladimir S. Sobkin and Tatyana A. Lykova investigated the sociometric status of Theatre College students and its relation to their personal characteristics and educational activities.