Traditions and continuity of psychological cognition and knowledge

The article was prepared as a response to the publication by Yu.N. Oleinik and A.L. Zhuravlev “Scientific traditions as a mechanism of continuity of psychological cognition”. The authors show that the concept of tradition is often used by psychologists, but systematic studies of this phenomenon have not yet been conducted. The work of Yu.N. Oleinik and A.L. Zhuravlev is essentially the first attempt to change the situation in a constructive direction. Our analysis of the primary materials contained in the article under discussion allowed us to identify the uniqueness of continuity and traditions as components of psychological cognition. At the same time, succession processes are carried out in accordance with the dialectical law of unity and struggle of opposites, and traditions are regulated by the principle of antinomianism. In addition, there is reason to consider traditions as a property of psychological knowledge. In accordance with the task set by Yu.N. Oleinik and A.L. Zhuravlev in the title of their work of the hierarchical relationship between the concepts of tradition and continuity, we propose a modification of the working definition of tradition presented in the article under discussion. As a result, a certain transformation of the theoretical scheme for identifying the traditions of Yu.N. Oleinik and A.L. Zhuravlev was carried out. The work presented for discussion increases the level of scientific reflection on the stated issues and creates opportunities for reflexive management of the research activities of Russian psychologists.