Representation of Mental States of Field-dependent and Field-independent Personalities in Their Subjective Experience

The relevance of the research is caused by a problem of representation of mental states of a personality in the structure of subjective experience. Successful identification of mental states is determined by the clarity of the images of mental states stored in a person’s experience. The article is aimed at studying the image of the mental state of field-dependent and fieldindependent personalities in “past-present-future” time continuum. The data obtained from the study was statistically processed; content analysis and structural and comparative analysis were used, which allowed to detect the dynamics of intensity of mental states image, the degree of structure organization and consistency. The study revealed that mental states of field-dependent subjects are represented in subjective experience with a more complex structure that persists in the foreseeable future. The structure of the state image of field-independent subjects is less organized and is being destroyed in perspective, i.e. there is no clarity in assessing the states in the expected future. The materials of this article can be useful for more successful interaction with different people, for the process of regulation and control of the course of mental states, as well as for predicting mental states in various situations.


Introduction
Mental state is one of the categories of mental phenomena.Different psychologists made attempts to consider the phenomenon of mental state from various aspects, revealing it as affects, emotions, moods displayed in behavior, speech, etc.
Systematic approach toward the study of mental states was suggested by N.D. Levitov.He offers a definition of the mental state which reflects its integrity.N.D. Levitov does not reduce it only to experience, but e reveals it using "the principle of the unity of the psyche and activity" (Ganzen & Yurchenko, 1991, 2004) Mental state is studied as a phenomenon that has many aspects of existence and it is studied within different time scales (Kulikov, 2004).On the one hand, mental state plays its role in integral psychic regulation, and on the other hand, it is subordinated to a specific personal determination (needs, desires, inner latent potential) (Chesnokova, 2004).The ability of individual to regulate one's condition makes it possible for him to build relationships with other people and to influence activity (Artemyeva, 2007).Mental state is determined by various causes, i.e. acts a consequence, and it is itself the main determinant, i.e. acts as the cause.The actual mental state acts as a link between mental processes and personality attributes (Prokhorov, 2008) Mental states have a certain structure, dynamics (Prokhorov, 2011;Artisheva, 2015).This is a personality's holistic reflection of the situation expressed in the unity of behavior and experience in time continuum (Prokhorov, 2011).They develop and unite mental processes and psychological properties, provide the adaptive affect of mental unity.Mental states are broken down into positive and negative ones (Kulikov, 2004), actual (operational, lasting from second to minute), current (lasting from hour to day) and long (lasting for a month, a year or more).It is the long-term states that lead to qualitative changes in personality.Mental states are also broken down according to the level of mental activity: (a) the state of increased mental activity (happiness, ecstasy, horror, panic, etc.); (b) the state of the average (optimal) mental activity (calmness, sympathy, interest, compassion, meditation, etc.); and (c) the state of reduced mental activity (dreams, sadness, fatigue, melancholy, sadness, etc.).High energy level conditions do not last long while the states characterized by a low level of mental activity are more prolonged (Dikaya, 2004).
Being in a certain state, a person can introspectively describe, characterize this state, directing cognitive activity into the inner world and relying on one's own inner experiences (the course of mental processes, physiological changes, behavioral reactions, etc.).The memory of each individual contains information about mental states -that is, mental states are fixed in the memory, being cemented in the structures and forming a subjective experience of experiencing those states.
Mental states are fixed in the subjective experience of a person as an image that has a certain structure and contains information on the intensity and consistency of states (Prokhorov, 2008).That is, an experience is a space-time scheme of states.Experience is the knowledge of the causes of emotions and mental states (Barrett et al., 2007).The image of mental state is an abstract idea of a mental state or a presentation of a state in consciousness.The image of mental state is characterized by three temporal aspects: the actual image of the state which is being formed here and now; the image of the state experienced, i.e. image of memory, idea; the image of the desired state, in which the goals and motives are reflected.
The structure of organization of subjective (mental) experience of a person serves as determinant of individual differences in cognitive and intellectual activity (Kholodnaya, 2004).The rules which organize the existing ideas and incoming information in the structure of experience are defined as cognitive styles.On the one hand, they are attributable to certain general rules of a cognitive sphere organization, and on the other hand, their clarity emphasizes the presence of individual specific mechanisms "inside" subject's experience, which ensure the regulation of his intellectual activity (Kholodnaya, 2004).Mental activity is attributable to subjective experience (goals, emotions, values, etc.) (Kholodnaya, 2004;Artishcheva, 2017).
Cognitive styles participate in the organization of subjective experience structure where the image of mental state is formed.They determine the reflection of external and internal information, the adjustment of cognitive processes, thereby determining the degree of the articulation of experience.The degree of psychological differentiation (articulation) of various forms of experience determines mental development of the personality (Kholodnaya, 2004;Artishcheva, 2017).For people with more articulated experience, cognitive activity is carried out on the basis of individually-unique ways of processing information which have differentiated nature.
The measure of articulation (dissection, clarity, distinctness) of individual experience is the cognitive style of field-dependence and field-independence (Kholodnaya, 2004).This style determines the degree of orientation of a person at the time of making decisions on the experience and knowledge available to him, and not on the external guidelines, if they contradict his experience.The most important expressions of this style are the inclusion of control mechanisms over affective states.The perception of the field-dependent people is analytically based, while with field-independent people -it is synthetically based (Kholodnaya, 2004).Field-dependent subjects hardly overcome the influence of the external visible field, they need a lot of time to see the "necessary" in the complex, and they perceive the field without trying to reorganize it.Fieldindependent subjects are more successful in intellectual activity, the "picture" they perceive is more structured.Field-independent subjects are inclined to control the action of the external field with reliance on internal criteria (personal proprioceptive experience).They are able to divide the field into elements, structure and organize the situation, i.e. demonstrate an articulated approach to the field.In difficult situations field-independent subjects activate complex forms of defenses aimed at transforming the experience and building a more connected picture of the event.Studies show that behavior of "synthetics" is more stereotyped than that the behavior of "analysts", because the first group is characterized by high stability in the evaluation of themselves and others, and they apply a small number of characteristics for it."Analysts" are more sensitive to changes due to increased differentiation and they allocate more attributes for evaluating others (Artishcheva, 2017).
The field-dependency-field-independency style defines the orientation towards outer or inner space.Field-dependent individuals are subject to the influence of outer opinion, generally accepted rules, the outside world, so -when making a decision -and in this case when describing their conditions -they rely more on the average values of characteristics, without demonstrating their extreme expression.

Research base
The study involved 93 people of 18-21 years old.Subjects described and assessed the actual mental state experienced at a given time.Then they described and evaluated their mental state, named on the first day of the study, but experienced in the past: a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, and also experience they anticipate in the future: in a week, in a month, in a year.

Organization and methods of research
The study involved self-reports composed in free form (subjective descriptions), the questionnaire "Relief of the mental state" (objective) data.The procedure for examining each day was as follows.The subjects first described their state (actual or experienced at a certain time interval) in free form.Then, using the form of the questionnaire, they assessed the intensity of their state, evaluating its characteristics (physiological and mental processes, experiences and behavior) according to 11-point scale (from -5 to +5).The following days, the subjects described and measured the states they named on the first day of the study, but experienced in other time intervals (a week, a month and a year ago).The same states were described and measured with the prospect for the future (in a week, in a month, in a year).The states described and measured for the subsequent analysis were divided into groups according to D. Lindsley activation continuum and mental activity levels scale of V. A. Hansen (Prokhorov, 2011): • positive states of a high level of mental activity (love, joy, cheerfulness, spirituality, a joy in life, peppiness, "positive"); • negative states of a high level of mental activity (fear, hatred, anger, irritability, disturbance, excitement, impatience, jealousy, alarm, tension, anxiety); • positive states of the average level of mental activity (tranquility, calmness, interest, concentration); • negative states of the average level of mental activity (uncertainty, indifference, expectation, lack of focus, discomfort, instability, dissatisfaction); • negative states of low level of mental activity (distress, fatigue, laziness, sadness, apathy, drowsiness, solitude, despondency, opression, exhaustion, weakness, depression, lethargy, melancholy).
The data from self-reports given in free form were distributed upon 18 factors according to the results of expert assessments: physiological / energy processes; behavior / deeds / reactions / actions / psychomotorics; experiences / expectations / time / hopes; emotions / mood; events / situations; motivation / desires / willingness / needs / opportunities; attitude / assessment / comparison; transcendence / metaphoricity; thinking; perception; speech; attention; memory / views / memory images; consciousness; sensations; imagination; volitional processes; reflection."Gottschaldt figures" technique was used to detect the degree of articulation of the experience -it determines field-dependence of field-independence of the subjects.
The statistical processing of the results included: a comparison of the degree of indicators expression according to the average arithmetic value and to the coefficient of links stability; comparative analysis of the expression of the values of indicators by the criterion of signs, the calculation of the indices of organization (coherence and divergence) of structures.

The dynamics of images of mental states according to objective estimates
Figure 1 shows graphs of changes in the objective characteristics of mental states images.Let us consider how the field-dependent and the field-independent subjects evaluate their states at the current time and with reliance on individual experience.
YA -year ago, MA -month ago, WA -week ago, ACT -actual time, WI -a week in advance, MI -a month in advance, YI -a year in advance.
Figure 1.The dynamics of mental states images in the time continuum ("Objective" data) Field-dependent subjects, in contrast to the field-independent subjects, have a higher intensity of images of states in the past, at the present time and in remote future.The reverse effect can be seen only in a week in advance sample.Images of the states of field-dependent and fieldindependent in a year sample in the future and in a month sample in the future sections have similar values that are higher than the values of the current state.The revealed dynamics is provided by the specificity of the assessments received from the subjects which describe their mental processes, somatic expressions, experiences and behavior.
YA -year ago, MA -month ago, WA -week ago, ACT -actual time, WI -a week in advance, MI -a month in advance, YI -a year in advance.
Figure 2а and Figure 2b.The dynamics of mental processes (2a) and physiological reactions (2b) in the past-present-future continuum For example, mental processes unit (2a) in the image of states of field-dependent subjects is characterized by greater intensity in the samples of a year ago, a week in advance, and a month in advance.In the remaining samples this substructure differs by a greater degree of characteristics in the image of the states of field-dependent subjects.However, in the year in advance sample the values of the substructure of both groups of subjects are as close as possible.The physiological reaction substructure (2b) demonstrates a greater intensity in the image of field-dependent subjects in the entire time continuum, except for a week in advance sample, where the trend reverses.
In the past and the actual time samples, the substructure of the experience (2c) demonstrates the greatest intensity in the images of the states of field-dependent subjects.In the samples of the future, the intensity alternates in field-dependent and field-independent subjects.In the image of the states of field-dependent subjects, the substructure of behavior (2d) is more distinct than in the image of the states of field-independent subjects, and only in a week in advance sample the trend reverses.Thus, the states of field-dependent subjects are represented in their experience mainly by substructures of mental processes and experiences.In the remote samples of the past and the future (a year ago, a year in advance) field-dependent individuals note a rise in temperature, muscle tone, increased cardiac activity, increased respiration, a feeling of mild hunger (physiological reactions unit); consistency, adequacy, openness of behavior are also revealed in the time continuum (behavior unit).A pronounced decrease in the values of the characteristics in a week in advance sample was revealed.The dynamics of indicators of the states image in the samples of the past is less expressed than in the samples of the future.
The substructure of mental processes is the leading one in the image of states of fieldindependent subjects.In samples one year ago, a week in advance, a month in advance, the subjects note cheerfulness, optimism, vivacity, briskness, lightness, relaxed experiences (experience unit), and throughout the whole time sample they note the confidence of behavior, which is especially expressed in the samples of the future.The indices characterizing the course of physiological reactions demonstrate an intensity varying within the limits of average values.The dynamics of the indices of all substructures has a zigzag line with a clear drop in a week ago sample, i.e. in this interval, the intensity of substructures is reduced.The characteristics of substructures of the image of states of field-independent subjects in close time samples of the past (a week ago, a month ago) reduce the intensity, and when it comes to time samples in the future (in a week, in a month), they increase it.At the same time, in the remote time samples the reverse trend can be observed: in a year ago section the intensity rises, and in a year in advance section it decreases.

The dynamics of the images of mental states according to subjective descriptions
Let us consider the specifics of descriptions of the states based on actual time and with reliance on experience.
The image of the states of field-dependent subjects has the highest content saturation in current time and a year ago time samples.In the remaining time samples, the number of described characteristics is reduced.At the same time, the image of the past contains more operants than the image of the future.In addition, the most complete content saturation at the actual time is demonstrated by the image of the states of field-independent subjects.And in the samples of the future, the image contains a much smaller number of described characteristics than in the image of the past.In the intervals of a year ago -in a year in advance, a group of field-dependent subjects -in the descriptions of their states -most commonly use characteristics that reflect the course of physiological and behavioral reactions.In the samples of the past, the image basically often contains motivational components and the description of emotional reactions.In the samples of the future -a description of experiences, expectations.Characteristics that did not occur or were very rare in the descriptions were also identified.In the whole time continuum these are perception, speech, consciousness.In some samples of the past the descriptions rarely use the memory indicator, while in some sections of the future -sensations.
In the group of field-independent subjects, the images of the states of the entire time continuum contain mainly indicators reflecting the course of physiological and emotional reactions.The behavioral component is most often used in describing the states of the past and the actual time, and the experience component in mostly used in the descriptions of the future states.Some zero indicators were also identified.In the entire time continuum, these include speech / communication, attention, memory / images, in the samples of the past -they also include consciousness, imagination, volitional processes.

The analysis of the significance of differences
Let us clarify the significance of the revealed differences using the sign criterion.

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The difference between the images of the states of the field-dependent and the fieldindependent subjects were revealed in all samples, except for a year ago, a month in advance with values p ≥ 0.05, p ≥ 0.01, p ≥ 0.001.The image of field-dependent subjects is more intensive than the image of the field-independent ones; only in a week in advance sample the reverse trend is observed.It was revealed that there is the same number of differences between the images in the samples of past as in the samples of the future.A comparative analysis of images of states using "objective" data and "subjective descriptions" showed the following results: the image of the states of the field-dependent subjects is more intense than the image of the states of field-independent ones (no differences in samples a year ago, a month in advance).

Structural analysis of mental states images represented in subjective experience
The images of mental states stored in subjective experience of an individual have certain structure which is determined by the connectedness of characteristics and by structural indicators.The analysis of structure of mental states images of field-dependent and fieldindependent subjects showed the following results.Groups of subjects: FD -field-dependent, FI -field-independent.
The same indicators form a different number of interrelations which have a different degree of significance -this leads to the formation of both highly organized and low-organized structures, depending on the time sample and style features.
General trend has been discovered -more significant interrelations (p ≤ 0.001) are formed by a smaller number of indicators (15-44), which are divided into several galaxies.At the same time, one of them includes a large number of elements, while the rest -only 2-3 indicators.Less significant interrelations (p ≤ 0.05) form an integral structure with the maximum inclusion of indicators (up to 55 of 58 indicators available).
The images of states of field-dependent and field-independent subjects have a high coherence index (up to 883) and relatively low divergence index (up to 120) of structures.We can state that divergent connections -that is, connections that have an inverse relation -do not violate the overall organization and coherence of structures but only add a little variety.
The structure of the image of mental states of the field-dependent subjects is more organized, especially in the actual time sample and in a year samples of the past and the future, and has greater stability of connections throughout the entire time continuum.Whereas the structure of the image of states of field-dependent subjects is less organized with a decrease in the coherence of characteristics from the past to the future.At the same time, links remain stable in all samples, except for a week and a month in advance samples.That is, the image of mental states of field-dependent people is the most complete, integrated, and highly organized.
Structure-forming indices related to the four substructures are revealed in the image of the states of field-independent subjects.However, they basically refer to the units of mental processes, experiences, and behavior.Leading components, reflecting the course of physiological reactions, are noted only in the a year in advance sample.The leading indicators common for different time intervals were revealed.Thus, cross-cutting structural indicators for the past and the present samples are volitional processes, for the past and the future -passivity-activity, sadness-gaiety, lethargic-boyishness of experiences, passivity-activity of behavior.We should also note the structural indicators that are cross-cutting within a certain time continuum.For the intervals of the past, these are volitional processes, drowsiness-cheerfullness of experiences.Inside the continuum of the future no such indicators were revealed.
Structural indicators related to the four substructures -but mostly to the units of mental processes and experiences -were revealed in the image of the states of field-independent subjects.The leading components that reflect the behavioral characteristics were noted only in the samples of the past, while the physiological reactions -in the sample of a year in advance.Crosscutting structural indicators for the past-present-future continuum are: emotional processes, gravity-ease of experiences; for samples of past and present this is a gravity-ease of experiences; for sections of the future and present: tension-emancipation of experiences; for samples of the past and the future: lethargic-boyishness of experiences; for the samples of the past -lethargicboyishness, drowsiness-boyishness of experiences, passivity-activity of behavior; for the intervals of the future -dreariness-gaiety, sadness-optimism, grief-cheerfulness of experiences.

Discussions
The problem of mental states has been discussed for a long time, and there is a number of researches aimed at studying people's emotional sphere (Artisheva, 2017, Prokhorov, 2004, 2011), mental states (Prokhorov, 2011(Prokhorov, , 2004;;Levitov, 2004;Kulikov, 2004) the relations of states and consciousness, the links between states and meanings, personal and individual characteristics, as well as at studying of the age specificity of mental states, and studying functional states, and states in labor and learning activities (Prokhorov, 2011;Artishcheva, 2015Artishcheva, , 2017;;Prokhorov & Artisheva, 2016), etc.
Speaking of mental states and their representation in consciousness, we concern the issue of a mental state image, which -as it was noted earlier in other studies -is the process and the result of the reflection of states in consciousness.Like any other mental image (image of perception, sensation, situation, human image, associative image, etc.) the image of states is stored in person's memory and it makes up one's subjective experience.On the one hand, the experience includes images of states; on the other hand, the image carries in itself the content of experience.
That is, a person, being in this or that state, experiences certain emotions, feelings connected with certain situations, events, people, etc., which leave a trace in memory and enrich the existing experience or create a new one if the experience is new.Subjective experience of states allows us to identify our experiences, to determine further development, the realization of states on the behavioral and verbal levels, to anticipate the result or the outcome of our experiences.
The subjective experience of mental states has not been studied well enough -it is fragmentarily represented in studies related to the image and mental representations of states.The complexity, clarity and differentiation of subjective experience is determined by the 'fielddependence-field-independence' cognitive style.We made an attempt to reveal the representation of mental states in the experience of field-dependent and field-independent people, to reveal how the image of mental states is formed and how it is being represented in the future depending on the degree of articulation of experience.The analysis of the results showed that field-dependent and field-independent individuals have different images of mental states in terms of structure, content and intensity.Mental states of field-dependent personalities who have a slightly differentiated structure of the experience are more intense at the actual time; the links between their characteristics are more stable, they form complex structure.With almost the same features, these mental states are recalled and anticipated, representing from the structures of the experience.In the actual time, field-dependent and field-independent people reveal their states meaningfully; the difference is not in the frequency of occurrence of characteristics used in descriptions, but in their qualitative specifics.That is, in the entire time continuum in describing the states the field-dependent people most often rely on behavioral reactions, external manifestations, while field-independent people -on the contrary -rely on the specificity of emotional manifestations, moods, i.e. on the internal experience.
The research takes a fresh look at the problem of mental state image in the structure of the subjective experience, and in particular, the specificity of the representation of mental states in the experience depending on its articulation (differentiation).

Conclusion
1.At the actual time, mental states are evaluated by field-dependent individuals as more intense than those experienced by field-independent subjects.The consistency of mental states descriptions in both groups is high.At the same time, field-dependent individuals most often rely on the description of their external manifestations (behavior, actions, psychomotorics), while field-independent subjects -on the contrary -relate to emotional experiences (emotions, feelings, moods).The structure of the actual mental state image of field-dependent individuals is more complex in terms of organization.At the same time, field-independent subjects have a higher divergence, which indicates the greater flexibility of the structure.
2. Mental states of field-dependent subjects are represented in their experience mainly by mental processes and experiences substructures.The substructure of mental processes is the leading one in the image of states of field-independent subjects.
3. In subjective experience, mental states of field-dependent subjects represent more complex structure with a high bond stability, which persists in the foreseeable future.Whereas the structure of the state image of field-independent subjects is less organized with a reduction in the coherence of characteristics from the past to the future, but with remaining stability.The structure of the image of mental state of field-independent is destroyed in perspective, i.e. there is no clarity in assessing the states in the expected future.
e-Conference on Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (27-38) ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 31 -field-dependent, FI -field-independent.YA -year ago, MA -month ago, WA -week ago, ACT -actual time, WI -a week in advance, MI -a month in advance, YI -a year in advance.

Figure
Figure 2c and Figure 2d.The dynamics of experiences and behavior in the past-present-future continuum e-Conference on Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences (27-38) ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 33 Legend: FD -field-dependent, FI -field-independent.YA -year ago, MA -month ago, WA -week ago, ACT -actual time, WI -a week in advance, MI -a month in advance, YI -a year in advance.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3.The dynamics of the image of mental states in the time continuum ("subjective descriptions") . Artishcheva -Representation of Mental States of Field-dependent and... _________________________________________________________________________

Table 1 .
General picture of the differences in the images of mental states in past-present-future time continuum (sign criterion) Legend: FD -group of field-dependent subjects, FI -group of field-independent subjects.p -the difference level.

Table 2 .
A coherent picture of structural organization of mental states images in the past-present-future continuum