The principle of double stimulation: A path to volitional action

While contemporary literature understands double stimulation primarily as a method to study specific mental functions with the help of two types of stimuli, this article points at two under-researched aspects of double stimulation based on a close reading of classic texts by Vygotsky and his colleagues. First, double stimulation, besides being a method, is a principle of volition which distinctively characterizes all higher mental functions. Second, double stimulation comprises conflictual aspects, in particular conflicts of motives. Together with the two types of stimuli, conflicts of motives constitute the core of a strategic setup that human beings establish to intentionally affect their behavior and the world around them. A model based on these interpretations is constructed. The model may enrich our understanding of double stimulation and open up interesting new avenues for further research.