The method of K.S. Stanislavski and the physiology of emotions

The book of Academician P.V. Simonova is an attempt to give a detailed analysis of the method of K. S. Stanislavsky from the standpoint of the neurophysiology of emotions. A person’s emotional reaction is a complex physiological act, all components of which are closely interconnected. At the same time, the principles and degree of brain influence on individual components of emotion are undoubtedly different. These differences are especially clearly in case of arbitrary impact on the emotional sphere with the help of speech. The connection of speech signals with the motor components is undeniable: if you say “raise your hand” to a person, he will do it easily. But who can perform such speech teams as “squeeze the blood vessels”, “slow down the heartbeat”, “highlight adrenaline in the blood”, etc.? In search of specific techniques of arbitrary impact on involuntary reactions, the author turns to the method of K. S. Stanislavsky, created by the great director to solve his professional problems. Developing the techniques of intentional reproduction of emotions among the actors, he controlled the emergence of the desired state not by what the actor told him about his experiences, but according to the external signs of emotion, by motor reactions, to change the activities of internal organs. This inextricable connection between experiences and their expression, as well as the corresponding physiological reactions, is analyzed by the author.
Although the book does not claim to be a complete physiological justification of the theory of stage creativity, it can be useful not only to specialists - physiologists, biophysicists, psychologists, etc., but also artists, as well as a wide range of readers of interest