Regularity of mental development in ontogenesis and disontogenesis: medical and psychological aspects

Abstract

It is established that normal development – ontogenesis, in psychology is traditionally considered in
relation to childhood. However, modern psychology expands the boundaries of ontogenesis, covering the
entire life of man from birth to death. Now distinguish prenatal (before birth) and postnatal (after birth)
ontogeny. It is stated that its key component is mental ontogenesis, the greatest intensity of which is
observed in childhood and adolescence, when certain mental functions and personality are formed. from
a methodological point of view, the concept of «ontogenesis» is associated with a set of problems of
developmental psychology: the social situation of development; age periodization and development crises;
time frame for the development of ontogenesis and its stages; the influence of the factor of individuality
on the specifics of the manifestations of ontogenesis at different stages; methods of studying the manifestations of ontogenesis at different ages. It is stated that in clinical psychology «dysontogenesis»
is considered as a disorder of mental development that occurs at any age and lasts
throughout life, and dysontogenesis can manifest itself as a painful condition caused by
impaired development of the body and personality (at different ages). It is established
that the main criterion of dysontogenesis is a defect caused by genetic (chromosomal
changes, gene mutations) or non-genetic (infections, intoxications, injuries, etc.) factors.
It is proved that the category that characterizes all types of development – both normal
and abnormal, is the general patterns of mental development.