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Principles of Mental Map Construction on the Level of the First and the Second Signal Systems
Within the classical theory the subject's sensations are interpreted as signals of some object world outer as related to subject reality. The stable "sensation complexes" pointed out by the mind as "exterior" conditions for satisfying a need, are presented to the perception subject as "images" - the real image sign system of "inside functioning" (the first signal system), with the help of which intellect builds a plan for subject reality for a specific subject. The outside (as related to the subject reality) object world is assumed to be a source of these images.
The image sign system is an instrument for requirement realization that arose as a need to orient in terms in the conditions for its satisfaction. An image is to be understood as a sign, "hieroglyph" generated by the intellect out of sensations for denoting specific conditions, unlike a static combination of sensations. The image corresponds to the content of a process of some length, and not to its momentary form.
The first-signal mental map as a result of a stream of sensations structures by the intellect, forms a specific image representation of the subject reality only for a specific subject.
Emergence of the second signal system is connected to realization of a social requirement for tools within the boundaries of subjectness. The subject intermediately changes objective conditions of the subject reality perception attributing to them a signal meaning. This way he creates a new sign system accessible for perception in other subjective realities of the given subjectness.
Image meanings in the first signal system are maximally specified by the conditions of satisfying a requirement of a specific subject. However, the conditions for satisfying a need are perceived differently within different frames of reference of a certain subjectness and therefore, the second signal system loses its previous simplicity. Its meanings are superposition of possible variants of conditional interpretations (or superposition of states), are probabilistically defined and they depend on a mentality where they are studied. These meanings are embedded in concept-signs of the second signal system and they are interpreted as objects in the object reality. In this representation the source of these sensations is an "outside" object that possesses definite properties.
The result of objectivization of sensational modalities within a mentality is determined through the categories of "property/characteristic" and "quality". The quantitative side of a definite modality and the stability in the intensity of a characteristic during its alteration is correlated with rigidity (inertness). Characteristics, in this sense, are the result of a sensation objectivization process and they are their "signification"-process in the second signal system.
In fact, an eidetic image is mediated by a concept (and its meanings in a mentality) , and it becomes a representation image.
Since the adaptation process takes place within a social system (a certain mentality), there arises a need to "correct" the image-meanings of an "individual" signal system on a specific mental map, their meanings expressed in concepts of the second signal system common to this mentality. This causes the transition from the eidetic mental map to the mental map of representations, which leads to "diffusion" of a specific image. That is related to differences in object interpretation in other reference systems.
Knowledge is a sign representation of conditions for satisfying a requirement on the mental map. Knowledge is reached when there is a gap between an object as a means of satisfying a requirement, and the requirement itself in the urgent form. That is the knowledge about an object as a possible means of satisfying a requirement in the past and future, which means the absence of its actualization in the present. Knowledge is revealed through meanings, while exterior description of an object is done through its properties. While comprehension is the presence of a link between an object and an urgent need. Awareness is establishing the identity between different forms of sensations (intero-, extero- and proprioceptive) as a sign of reaching conditions where some requirement can be satisfied, and it is the first step to disclosing the sense of an object and actions as means of satisfying that need.
The first-signal system is a means of reflection and temporal structuring of a “stream of sensations” on a mental map. These sensations are of various modality and structuring process is the one that realizes (relays) a certain content into images and sensations. The signs of this system differentiate between modalities (qualities) within which this content is being relayed. The content of the process is actually understood as a way of organizing forms of a certain class (quality) into a specific sequence (process).
As it was said, the subject considers sensational representation of the world to be signal. It is true that unlike language, this "signal system" is a means of structuring (intellectual organization) of the subjective world experience, and not the means of communication. The second signal system realizes the description of subject reality as object reality for a given mentality, and it relates to translation of sensational (internal) images into conceptual (external) signs. This is how the second signal system looks, otherwise called "a sign system of the second level" that makes it possible to "leave" the boundaries of a specific subjective reality.
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