“Math anxiety”, pseudo-scientific sophistications and methodological dead ends

Abstract

Background. The development of psychological science in the context of educational practice stimulates researchers to seek for a scientific explanation of phenomena that are often used without proper justification. The article is devoted to the analysis of “math anxiety” in an interdisciplinary context. 
In 2000, the All-Russian conference “Mathematics and Society. Mathematics education at the turn of the century”, organized by academician V.A. Sadovnichy took place in Dubna. At the conference V.A. Sadovnichy convincingly substantiated the growing role of mathematics in the 21st century and the importance of its results and applications not only for specialists, but also in all spheres of society — from theoretical physics and computer technology to the humanities and art history. In this regard, V.A. Sadovnichy pointed out the danger and inadmissibility of pseudo-scientific sophistications and pseudo-pedagogical speculations in the field of the meaning and difficulty of mathematics as a subject of teaching and problems related to it. We will look at one of these pseudoscientific concepts, the so-called “math anxiety,” in this article.
Objective. The purpose of this article is to systematize and analyze data on “math anxiety” and critically comprehend this phenomenon. 
Method. The methodological basis of the article is the cultural-historical, as well as activity-based approaches, developed in line with leading Russian psychology schools of L.S. Vygotsky, A.N. Leontyev, A.R. Luria, P. Ya. Galperin, and others. 
Results. Developing the ideas of cultural-historical psychology and activity theory in the context of education, Russian psychologists emphasized the special importance of research focused on practical problems related to learning. At the same time, referring to “math anxiety” can distract researchers from the real problems in teaching mathematics and other subjects. The joint efforts of psychologists, teachers, psychiatrists, neurologists and other specialists are important for the successful solution of educational problems. The development of issues of the content and methods of mathematics education, a psychological analysis of the difficulties experienced by both children and teachers, will contribute both to the development of psychological science and to the strengthening of its connections with educational practice.