Uznadze Set Revisited

Abstract

The paradigm of set , developed by the Georgian psychologist D. Uznadze, represents a foundational yet often overlooked contribution to the science of non-conscious behavioral regulation. This article provides a comprehensive theoretical and experimental analysis of the set phenomenon, revisiting its core premise as a holistic, pre-conscious state that arises from the interaction of a subject's need and the objective situation, thereby determining the direction of subsequent mental activity. We systematically examine the classical haptic methodology—a two-phase experiment involving set-inducing and critical trials—and its modern modifications, including visual, computerized, and cross-modal paradigms that enhance its precision and scope. The analysis confirms the diagnostic power of set parameters, linking individual differences in set strength and lability to cognitive rigidity or flexibility, with significant implications for developmental, clinical, and neuropsychology. Furthermore, we integrate classical theory with contemporary neuroscience, framing set within the predictive coding framework and identifying its neurophysiological substrates in a distributed network including the basal ganglia for habit formation, the prefrontal cortex for cognitive control, and sensory association areas for perceptual integration. The article concludes by highlighting the paradigm's significant potential as a quantitative diagnostic tool and proposes future research directions, including the exploration of its neurochemical bases, its role in social cognition and implicit bias, and the development of cognitive training interventions to enhance behavioral flexibility.