1.1.2. The principle of modeling

According to this principle any system can be presented as a finite set of models, each of them reflects a particular side of its essence.

Model – is a theoretical (imaginary), or sign (semiotic), or material (artificial or natural) substitute of the original which reflects a number of the original’s characteristics, essential to the given investigation, in the form of a number of elements and which helps to solve scientific and applied tasks.

The principle of modeling is of great importance for psychological diagnostics. It testifies to the legitimacy of studying of any quality while modeling the appropriate activity (situation). It should be pointed out, that huge modeling possibilities are used in a person’s diagnostics insufficiently. Because of it the practical diagnostics suffers which is especially actual for the diagnostics of the qualities appearing in extreme situations. It’s very difficult and even impossible for carrying out the diagnostic procedures in real extreme situations. The best solution of the problem is the modeling of extreme situation. As well as any other model, it has reproducibility, standardness and other important characteristics. It doesn’t only facilitate the procedure of the diagnostics, but also raises the reliability of the results. Its confirmation is the practice of usage of methods of the diagnostics of reliability in extreme situation and the diagnostics of psycho-emotional steadiness which are based on the use of the model of extreme situation (see the description of the methods in chapter VI, part II).

The principle of modeling suggests the possibility to model any aspects and characteristics of a person, his activity and behavior. The fact that many parameters have no qualified models yet (it especially concerns the simulation of emotions) testifies only about an irregularity or insufficiency of knowledge in this sphere, but not about theoretical hopelessness of this way.

In system diagnostics the principle of modeling allows to use simplified models. Their interaction provides the reflection of a composite system as a whole. It is reasonable to use the hierarchical system of models. In this case the model which is on the top of the pyramid helps to investigate only common tendencies which gradually become concrete dealing with the models of lower levels.

The postulates of modeling principle play an important role in a person’s system diagnostics.

The postulate of supplement, according to the principle of Bohr requires that the objects should be described using pairs of notions simultaneously completing each other. In system diagnostics the principle of continuum described in 2.2 corresponds to this postulate.

The postulate of uncertainty according to the principle of Meisenberg indicates that the minimum accuracy of the definition of a system’s properties depends on the area of uncertainty which is characteristic of this system, and inside of which the increasing accuracy of the definition of one property entails the lowering accuracy of the definition of another one. Due to this, many psychic processes have their areas of uncertainty, this postulate helps to understand the reasons of noninformity of the accuracy of the diagnostics of various properties during profound investigations.

Table 2 – The manifestation of the postulate of operation in Hooke’s law and also in psychic phenomenon.

Hooke’s law

Psychic phenomenon

The force of elasticity, originating in a body during its deformation, is proportional to the absolute alongation of the body. The coefficient of proportionality is called the rigidity of the body. It depends upon a material, geometrical sizes and forms. Hooke’s law is fulfilled during small deformations. The ultimate tension, during which Hooke’s law is fulfilled, is called the limit of elasticity.

During a psychological influence (pressure) on a person the quantity of a person’s counteraction is proportional to the quantity of the pressure and also the psychological rigidity of a person. An ultimate tension, under which this law is fulfilled, is called the limit of psychological steadiness. If the pressure is increased, a paradoxal phase of reaction is observed. It appears in two polar forms: the reaction of lion (supernormal rise of aggression, activity, will, muscle force, speed of reaction) and the reaction of rabbit (is characterized by relaxation, up to a stupor). The farther increase of a psychological pressure causes destruction of a person, up to a somatic self-destruction (suicide).

The postulate of operation causes a threshold character of a system’s reactions to an external influence. Up to the definite level the influence of the environment is compensated by strengthening of some processes and weakening of others and beginning with some level, the saltus – the modification of the system – is necessary. This postulate is displayed in Hooke’s law and its operations (see table 2).

The postulate of operation is compounded with the law of force by B.M.Teplov – V.D.Nebylitsin, which is the basis of their well-known technique of the diagnostics of force-weakness of nervous system and also the law of initial meanings by N.M.Peysakhov (1974) which contributes to the adequate interpretation of the results. E.P.Ilyin’s technique (1981) “Tepping-test” for the diagnostics of force-weakness of nervous system also corresponds with this postulate.