Bodily and psychic processes as aspects of human life functions

A contribution to a critical psychological material understanding of the body

Abstract

Originating in theoretical developments in the human sciences in recent years the body has received a more intense focus. This is due to the fact that the research has moved towards concrete investigations in order to especially grasp how in a local praxis with our limited know-how we must become able to do what until now we couldn’t do. We find our way by exploration which cannot guarantee a result, but all the same is a regular process. Exploration is a material concrete process, where anything may disturb and thereby break down the process, whereby it must vary itself in order to regenerate itself, and at the same time modify the environment. It is a reflexive, self-modifying process involving body, mind and the social. As a specification of this process the concept of motivation in critical psychology as a bodily and organismic evaluation of action possibilities will be expounded. Furthermore the theoretical work with the development of the concept of motivation will be discussed and its exemplary aspects will be underlined.