Reinstatement of the concept of the unconscious in the Soviet Union

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.