The Structure of Structure

A Functional-Structural Analysis of Character Patterns

Abstract

The article presents a functional-structural analysis of character patterns, integrating insights from psychoanalysis, body-oriented psychotherapy, and the Russian psychophysiological school. The author conceptualizes character as a multi-level dynamic system that combines cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and somatic components. Special emphasis is placed on the theories of Wilhelm Reich and Alexander Lowen, who link character to bodily manifestations and energy blocks, as well as the ideas of Russian scholars (Pavlov, Vygotsky, Anokhin, Bernstein), who offer a systemic perspective on behavioral regulation. The functional-structural approach (FSA) examines character through the «activity – action – movement” continuum, providing a holistic understanding of its organization. The article highlights the importance of interdisciplinary synthesis for developing diagnostic and corrective methods for characterological disorders. The practical relevance of the approach lies in its application in clinical and psychotherapeutic practice, including body-oriented techniques.