A. V. Yurevich notes, that among Russian psychologists today we can trace both "globalist" (integrative) and "counterglobalist" (isolationist) tendencies: "Straightforward orientation to Western standards, prescribing Russian science erasing national specificity comes along side with the same straightforward denial of the need to adjoin to the world mainstream " (Yurevich 2010b, p.55).

One cannot but agree with the conclusion of A. V. Yurevich that "the obvious inadequacy of both two extreme positions and the need to preserve most prolific national features of Russian science on one hand and on the other hand, the need of integration into the global mainstream, makes feasible the compliance of the principle of optimum integration "(Yurevich 2010b, p.55).

But what should be this optimum, what issues should be considered in order to define this optimum – these remain debatable, and this I would like to discuss.

For what purpose are Russian psychologists seeking integration into the mainstream? Who and why needs it (or does not need) in the heterogeneous contemporary Russian professional community? What motives bring forth the "globalist" and "counterglobalist" tendencies?

Let us try to reveal groups in our professional community within which interests and ideals of the participants seem to be more or less the same in relation to integration with the mainstream.

Our assessment will be based on theoretical grounds and predilections within the groups. To identify those let us consider the situation in which the contemporary psychological community was formed.

Contemporary Russian professional community was formed on the remains of the paradigm of Soviet psychological science. Soviet psychology had been, in a measure forcibly kept within the framework of a mono methodological trend, oriented to standards of natural sciences and based on Marxist philosophy, with a priority of fundamental research. During the Soviet period psychological practices were restricted and research centers were scarces. There were only few units providing applied psychological research in big clinical centers, in defence industry central institutions, etc. Universities were the main centers providing psychological research and education, and there were only three universities in Russia (eight all together in the USSR), where there were psychology faculties: Moscow (MSU), Yaroslavl (YarSU), and Leningrad university (LSU). University faculties were more research centers than educational institutions, e.g., LSU graduated each year about 50 full-time students, YarSU was smaller, MSU graduated over hundred students. All education was free, the entrance was on a competitive basis. There were fully equipped laboratories, where all the students got profound training. And these faculties were doing research for the government, very well financed. The faculties and the departments were headed by well-known researchers who were directing the investigations for which the faculties got their money from the state.