СULTURAL ACTIVITY PARADIGMTO THE PROBLEM OF ANALYSIS OF CHILDREN’S MENTAL IMAGE OF ILLNESS
In the article we discuss the problem of analyzing the mental image of illness in the children's somatic clinic. The use of the cultural-activity paradigm is being justified. It allows to completely reveal the psychological structure, content and functioning of the mental image of illness phenomenon. The scientific heuristics of the L.S. Vygotsky - A.N. Leontiev approach is being proved by the wide use of its discourse for the solving of many issues, which clinical bodily psychology is being faced. From the mentioned theory point of view we examine the central phenomena of the mental image of illness, which are its age dynamic and social situation of the development of the sick child. We discuss the possibility of summarizing the most current data, which were obtained during the investigation of the mental image of illness of children on the example of various chronic somatic diseases. The investigation of psychological factors, which influence on the mental image of illness of children with a chronic somatic diseases, is conditioned by the nowadays actual problem. The understanding of the peculiarities of mental image of illness, as one of the important factors, influencing on the social situation of development, is necessary for the working out of the effective methods of psychological help for children suffering from chronic somatic diseases. The investigation of psychological factors, which influence the peculiarities of formation and course of chronic somatic diseases in the childhood, is conditioned by the nowadays actual problem of the health of the growing up generation. The understanding of the peculiarities of mental image of illness, as one of the important factors influencing the course and prognosis for a disease, is necessary for the working out of the effective methods of psychological help for children suffering from various chronic somatic diseases. The actuality of the research is determined by the logic of such psychological branch development as the psychology in the somatic clinic and by the medical inquiry as well.