Psychology wiki. The main tasks of psychology

Ambivalence, frustration, rigidity - if you want to express your thoughts not at the level of a fifth grader, you will have to understand the meaning of these words. Katya Shpachuk explains everything in an accessible and understandable way, and visual gifs help her in this.
1. Frustration

Almost everyone experienced a feeling of unfulfillment, encountered obstacles on the way to achieving goals, which became an unbearable burden and the reason for anything reluctant. So this is what frustration is. When everything is boring and nothing works.

But you should not take this state of affairs with hostility. The main way to overcome frustration is to recognize the moment, accept it, and be tolerant. The state of dissatisfaction, mental tension mobilize the strength of a person to deal with a new challenge.

2. Procrastination

- So, from tomorrow I'm going on a diet! No, better Monday.

I'll finish it later when I'm in the mood. There is still time.

Ah, I'll write tomorrow. Will not go anywhere.

Familiar? This is procrastination, that is, postponing things for later.

A painful state when you need and don't want to.

It is accompanied by tormenting oneself for not completing the task. This is the main difference from laziness. Laziness is an indifferent state, procrastination is an emotional state. At the same time, a person finds pretexts, classes are much more interesting than doing a specific job.

In fact, the process is normal and inherent in most people. But don't overuse it. The main way to avoid it is motivation and proper prioritization. This is where time management comes in.

3. Introspection

In other words, self-observation. A method by which a person examines his or her own psychological tendencies or processes. Descartes was the first to use introspection, studying his own spiritual nature.

Despite the popularity of the method in the 19th century, introspection is considered a subjective, idealistic, even unscientific form of psychology.

4. Behaviorism

Behaviorism is a direction in psychology, which is based not on consciousness, but on behavior. Human response to an external stimulus. Movements, facial expressions, gestures - in short, all external signs have become the subject of study of behaviorists.

The founder of the method, American John Watson, suggested that with the help of careful observation, it is possible to predict, change or form proper behavior.

There have been many experiments that have examined human behavior. But the most famous was the following.

In 1971, Philip Zimbardo conducted an unprecedented psychological experiment called the Stanford Prison Experiment. Absolutely healthy, mentally stable young people were placed in a conditional prison. The students were divided into two groups and assigned tasks: some had to play the role of guards, others were prisoners. The student guards began to show sadistic tendencies, while the prisoners were morally depressed and resigned to their fate. After 6 days the experiment was terminated (instead of two weeks). During the course it was brought that the situation affects the behavior of a person more than his internal features.

5. Ambivalence

Many writers of psychological thrillers are familiar with this concept. So, “ambivalence” is an ambivalent attitude towards something. Moreover, this relationship is absolutely polar. For example, love and hatred, sympathy and antipathy, pleasure and displeasure that a person experiences at the same time and in relation to something (someone) alone. The term was introduced by E. Bleiler, who considered ambivalence to be one of the signs of schizophrenia.

According to Freud, "ambivalence" takes on a slightly different meaning. It is the presence of opposing deep motives, which are based on the attraction to life and death.

6. Insight

Translated from English, “insight” is insight, insight, insight, sudden finding of a solution, and so on.

There is a task, the task needs to be solved, sometimes it is simple, sometimes it is difficult, sometimes it is solved quickly, sometimes it takes time. Usually, in complex, time-consuming, at first glance overwhelming tasks comes insight - insight. Something non-standard, sudden, new. Along with insight, the previously laid down nature of action or thinking changes.

7. Rigidity

In psychology, “rigidity” is understood as a person’s unwillingness to act according to plan, fear of unforeseen circumstances. “Rigidity” also includes the unwillingness to give up habits and attitudes, from the old, in favor of the new, and so on.

A rigid person is a hostage to stereotypes, ideas that are not created independently, but taken from reliable sources.
They are specific, pedantic, they are annoyed by uncertainty and carelessness. Rigid thinking is banal, stamped, uninteresting.

8. Conformism and non-conformism

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause and reflect,” wrote Mark Twain. Conformism is a key concept of social psychology. Expressed in a change in behavior under the real or imagined influence of others.

Why is this happening? Because people are afraid when it's not like everyone else. This is getting out of your comfort zone. It is the fear of not being liked, of looking stupid, of being out of the masses.

A conformist is a person who changes his opinion, beliefs, attitudes, in favor of the society in which he is.

Nonconformist - a concept opposite to the previous one, that is, a person who defends an opinion that differs from the majority.

9. Catharsis

From ancient Greek, the word "katharsis" means "purification", most often from guilt. The process of a long experience, excitement, which at the peak of development turns into liberation, something maximally positive. It is common for a person to worry for various reasons, from the thought of the iron not being turned off, etc. Here we can talk about everyday catharsis. There is a problem that reaches its peak, a person suffers, but he cannot suffer forever. The problem begins to move away, anger goes away (who has what), there comes a moment of forgiveness or awareness.

10. Empathy

Do you get along with the person who is telling you their story? Do you live with him? Do you emotionally support the person you are listening to? Then you are an empath.

Empathy - understanding the feelings of people, willingness to provide support.

This is when a person puts himself in the place of another, understands and lives his story, but, nevertheless, remaining at his mind. Empathy is a feeling and responsive process, somewhere emotional.

Recently, the study of human psychology has become very popular. In the West, the consulting practice of specialists in this field has existed for quite a long time. In Russia, this is a relatively new direction. What is psychology? What are its main functions? What methods and programs do psychologists use to help people in difficult situations?

The concept of psychology

Psychology is which is the study of the mechanisms of the functioning of the human psyche. It considers the patterns in various situations, the thoughts, feelings and experiences that arise in this case.

Psychology is what helps us to understand our problems and their causes more deeply, to realize our shortcomings and strengths. Its study contributes to the development of moral qualities and morality in a person. Psychology is an important step towards self-improvement.

Object and subject of psychology

Some carriers of the phenomena and processes studied by this science should act as an object of psychology. A person could be considered such, but according to all norms, he is the subject of knowledge. That is why the object of psychology is considered to be the activity of people, their interaction with each other, behavior in various situations.

The subject of psychology has constantly changed over time in the process of development and improvement of its methods. Initially, the human soul was considered as it. Then the subject of psychology was the consciousness and behavior of people, as well as their unconscious beginning. Currently, there are two views on what is the subject of this science. From the point of view of the first, these are mental processes, states and personality traits. According to the second, its subject is the mechanisms of mental activity, psychological facts and laws.

Basic functions of psychology

One of the most important tasks of psychology is to study the characteristics of people's consciousness, the formation of general principles and patterns by which the individual acts. This science reveals the hidden possibilities of the human psyche, the causes and factors influencing people's behavior. All of the above are theoretical functions of psychology.

However, like any has a practical application. Its value lies in helping a person, developing recommendations and strategies for action in various situations. In all areas where people have to interact with each other, the role of psychology is invaluable. It allows a person to properly build relationships with others, avoid conflicts, learn to respect the interests of other people and reckon with them.

Processes in psychology

The human psyche is a single entity. All processes occurring in it are closely interconnected and cannot exist one without the other. That is why their division into groups is very conditional.

It is customary to single out the following processes in human psychology: cognitive, emotional and volitional. The first of these include memory, thinking, perception, attention and sensation. Their main feature is that it is thanks to them that it reacts and responds to influences from the outside world.

They form a person's attitude to certain events, allow you to evaluate yourself and others. These include feelings, emotions, mood of people.

Volitional mental processes are represented directly by will and motivation, as well as proactivity. They allow a person to control their actions and deeds, to control behavior and emotions. In addition, the volitional processes of the psyche are responsible for the ability to achieve goals, achieve the desired heights in certain areas.

Types of psychology

In modern practice, there are several classifications of types of psychology. The most common is its division into worldly and scientific. The first type is based primarily on the personal experience of people. Everyday psychology has an intuitive character. Most often it is very specific and subjective. Scientific psychology is a science based on rational data obtained through experiments or professional observations. All her positions are thought out and precise.

Depending on the scope of application, theoretical and practical types of psychology are distinguished. The first of them deals with the study of the patterns and characteristics of the human psyche. Practical psychology sets as its main task the provision of assistance and support to people, the improvement of their condition and the increase in the productivity of activity.

Methods of psychology

To achieve the goals of science in psychology, various methods are used to study consciousness and the characteristics of human behavior. First of all, experiment is one of them. It is a simulation of a situation that provokes a certain behavior of a person. At the same time, scientists record the data obtained and identify the dynamics and dependence of the results on various factors.

Very often in psychology the method of observation is used. With the help of it, various phenomena and processes occurring in the human psyche can be explained.

Recently, methods of questioning and testing have been widely used. In this case, people are asked to answer certain questions in a limited amount of time. Based on the analysis of the data obtained, conclusions are drawn about the results of the study and certain programs in psychology are drawn up.

To identify problems and their sources in a particular person, they use it. It is based on a comparison and analysis of various events in the life of an individual, key points in his development, identifying crisis stages and defining stages of development.

Our whole life is an endless series of events, situations, deeds, meetings, conversations, changes, victories and defeats, hopes and disappointments. In other words, a person's life is a constant interaction of his inner world with the surrounding reality. Every day we wake up, start our day, do different things, communicate with a lot of people, go to work, grow a business or do something else. Human life in the modern world is life in the world of high technologies, an endless flow of information, rapid development and change. And in order to meet all the requirements of the surrounding reality, a person must be internally stable, developed, able to overcome difficulties and have an unbending inner core that will always support and help to remain strong. The modern world is ready to absorb a person in a matter of seconds, make him a part of the gray mass, depersonalize, devastate and throw him to the sidelines. And if a person is not ready for this, then defeat cannot be avoided. But there is a way to emerge victorious in this fight.

One of the most important knowledge for a person in our time is knowledge in the field of psychology, and one of the most important skills is the ability to apply them in practice. To understand people, to be able to find a common language with them and communicate, to be able to instantly adapt to any situation, to always help yourself and others, you need to understand psychology. So that the problems and stress that today are pressing on a person with great force do not break you or your loved ones, and you or they can continue on their way, you need to understand human psychology. To understand others at a deep level, to be able to nurture yourself, raise your children, influence others, you need to know the nuances of people's psychology. In order to achieve success, achieve new results, conquer new heights, live in prosperity, harmony and well-being, you need to have important knowledge - knowledge about human psychology.

Given the importance of psychological knowledge, as well as the reasons that motivate people to grow and develop, their desire to become better and improve their lives, we have created this course called "Human Psychology". In the lessons of this course, we examine in detail very important things: we reveal the main and key problems of human psychology, the stages and patterns of its development and the formation of its personality, the formation of the characteristics of its behavior and communication with people. This course provides an opportunity to answer questions about how to understand human psychology, how to influence your life, those around you and, most importantly, yourself. The study of psychology and the application of the acquired knowledge in life contributes to personal growth, improving personal life, establishing excellent relationships, achieving success in the professional field and other areas of activity. This course "Human Psychology" is an online training consisting of lessons that contain interesting theoretical information about human psychology, examples (experiments, tests, experiments) are given, and, most importantly, a large number of practical tips are given that you can put into practice already on the first day of acquaintance with the training. At the end of the course there are links to useful materials: books (including audio books), videos, seminar recordings, experiments and quotes about psychology.

Psychology(from the ancient Greek “knowledge of the soul”) is a science that studies structures and processes inaccessible to external observation (sometimes called the “soul”) in order to explain human behavior, as well as the behavior of individuals, groups and collectives.

It is a complex, but important and interesting discipline to study. As it has probably already become clear, human psychology is a very exciting area of scientific knowledge and covers many sections that you can get acquainted with if you wish, on your own. You can even say that it is from this moment that your self-development will begin, because. you will already decide on your own what exactly you would like to learn and begin to master new knowledge. Human psychology, in itself, has many properties, one of which is the fear of everything new and incomprehensible. For many people, this is an obstacle to self-development and achieving the desired results. We recommend that you put aside any fears and doubts, and start studying the materials of our site and this course. After a while, you will be proud of yourself, thanks to new skills and results achieved.

Object of psychology- is a person. From this we can conclude that any psychologist (or interested in psychology) is a researcher of himself, due to which a close relationship between the objective and the subjective arises in psychological theories.

Subject of psychology in different historical epochs has always been understood in different ways and from the standpoint of different areas of psychological science:

Soul. Until the beginning of the 18th century, all researchers adhered to this position.
Phenomena of consciousness. Direction: English empirical associationist psychology. Main representatives: David Gartley, John Stuart Mill, Alexander Bain, Herbert Spencer.
The direct experience of the subject. Direction: structuralism. Main representatives: Wilhelm Wundt.
Adaptability. Direction: functionalism. Chief Representatives: William James.
Origin of mental activities. Direction: psychophysiology. Main representatives: Ivan Mikhailovich Sechenov.
Behavior. Direction: behaviorism. Main representatives: John Watson.
Unconscious. Direction: psychoanalysis. Main representatives: Sigmund Freud.
Information processing processes and their results. Direction: Gestalt psychology. Main representatives: Max Wertheimer.
Person's personal experience. Direction: humanistic psychology. Main representatives: Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Viktor Frankl, Rollo May.

The main sections of psychology:

Acmeology
differential psychology
gender psychology
cognitive psychology
Virtual psychology
Military psychology
Applied psychology
Engineering psychology
Clinical (medical psychology)
Neuropsychology
pathopsychology
Psychosomatics and psychology of corporality
Oncopsychology
Psychotherapy
Pedagogical psychology
Psychology of art
Psychology of parenthood
Labor psychology
Sports Psychology
Psychology of management
Economic psychology
Ethnopsychology
legal psychology
criminal psychology
Forensic psychology

As it is easy to see, there are many sections of psychology, and different directions study different aspects of a person's personality and his activities. Which section will be to your liking personally, you can determine by reading each of them yourself. In our course, we consider human psychology in general, without highlighting any areas, types or sections, but making it possible to apply new skills in any area of life.

Application of psychological knowledge

The application of psychological knowledge is necessary and useful in absolutely any field of human activity: family, study, science, work, business, friendship, love, creativity, etc. But it is important to learn how to apply relevant knowledge in different situations. After all, what can work effectively in communication with work colleagues may not work at all in a relationship with a loved one. What is suitable for a family may not be useful in creativity. Although, of course, there are general techniques that are universal and operate almost always and everywhere.

Knowledge of psychology gives a person many advantages: they develop and make them more erudite, educated, interesting, diversified. A person with psychological knowledge is able to understand the true causes of events happening to him (and others), to realize the motives of his behavior and understand the motives of the behavior of others. Knowledge of human psychology is the ability to solve many problems with significantly greater speed and efficiency, increase the ability to withstand adversity and failure, the ability to achieve outstanding results where others cannot. The skill of applying psychological knowledge, provided it is systematically and regularly consolidated, will make you a stronger personality with significant advantages over the rest. The list of all the advantages can be very, very long. But, as they say, it is better to see once than hear a hundred times. And drawing an analogy with this saying, we can say that it is better to apply once than read a hundred times.

It is also worth noting that the knowledge of psychology has long been applied by you in everyday life. But this is only done spontaneously, unconsciously and without understanding what strength, power and potential this knowledge actually carries in itself. And if you really want to get closer to your “best self” and improve your life, this can and should be deliberately learned.

How to learn it?

Naturally, knowledge about psychology is not present in us from birth, but is formed during life. Someone, of course, has a predisposition to psychology. Such people often become psychologists, intuitively understand people, look at life a little differently. Others have to specifically study psychological knowledge, put more effort and patience in order to assimilate it. But, in any case, you can learn everything. And to master the skill of applying psychological knowledge - even more so. And, you can do it yourself.

There are two aspects of learning this skill - theoretical and practical.

Theoretical aspect of psychology- this is the knowledge that is taught in educational institutions, and is also given in the presented course;
Practical aspect of psychology- this is the application of new knowledge in life, i.e. transition from theory to practice.

But it often happens that a theory remains a theory, because people simply do not know what to do with the information that they now own. Any lessons, courses, trainings, lectures, seminars, etc. should be aimed at the practical application of knowledge in real life.

With this feature in mind, the course, the introduction to which you are now reading, was compiled. The purpose of this course is not only to give you a good theoretical base of psychological knowledge, but also to teach you how to use this knowledge. All lessons of the course have a two-way focus - theory and practice. The theoretical part contains the most important knowledge on the topic of human psychology and represents their quintessence. The practical part, in turn, consists of recommendations, tips, psychological methods and techniques designed for you to use them.

This course "Human Psychology" is:

Systematized and understandable to any person material, presented in a simple, interesting and accessible form.
A collection of useful tips and tricks that are easy to put into practice from day one.
The opportunity to see yourself and your life, as well as other people from a new, previously unknown side.
The opportunity to increase the level of one's intellect, education and erudition by several levels, which undoubtedly plays a significant role in the life of a modern person.
The opportunity to find the main motivating force that will encourage you to go only forward and achieve success.
The opportunity to grow as a person and improve the level and quality of your life.
The opportunity to learn how to establish contact with any people (from your own children and parents to bosses and hooligans on the street).
The way to come to harmony and happiness.

Do you want to test your knowledge?

If you want to test your theoretical knowledge on the topic of the course and understand how it suits you, you can take our test. Only 1 option can be correct for each question. After you select one of the options, the system automatically moves on to the next question.

Psychology lessons

Having studied a lot of theoretical materials, choosing the most important and adapting it for practical application, we have created a number of lessons on human psychology. They discuss the most popular sections and areas of psychology, provide data from scientific research and opinions of specialists. But the most important thing is that the emphasis of each lesson is on practical advice and recommendations.

How to take classes?

The information from the lessons of this course is fully adapted for practical use and is suitable for absolutely everyone. The most important thing here, as has been said more than once, is the transition from theory to practice. You can read smart books for years and know a lot of things, but all this will be equal to zero if it remains just a baggage of knowledge.

You can divide the study of all lessons into several stages. For example, set yourself the task of studying 2 lessons a week: 1 day - studying the material, 2 days - testing in practice, 1 day - day off, etc. But you need not just to read, but to study: carefully, consciously, purposefully. The very tips and practical recommendations presented in the lessons are important not just to check or apply once, but to systematically implement them into your daily activities. Develop the habit of always remembering that you are studying human psychology - this will automatically make you want to apply something new in life again and again. The skill of applying psychological knowledge in practice will eventually become honed and automatic, because it is more dependent on experience. And our lessons are just aimed at teaching you how to get this experience and give it the right direction.

Additions and auxiliary materials:

Psychological games and exercises

Games and exercises created specifically to learn the features of the human psyche. There are different types of such games and exercises: for children and for adults, mass and single, for men and women, arbitrary and purposeful, etc. The use of psychological games and exercises helps people understand others and themselves, form some qualities and get rid of others, etc. This includes exercises for the development of various qualities, overcoming stress, increasing self-esteem, role-playing, educational, recreational games and many other games and exercises.

1.2. The place of psychology in the system of sciences. Branches of psychological science

1.3. Methodological principles of psychology. Methods of psychology

1.1. How to understand the behavior of another person? Why do people have different abilities? What is the "soul" and what is its nature? These and other questions have always occupied the minds of people, and over time, interest in a person and his behavior has constantly increased.

A rational approach to cognition of the world is based on the fact that the reality around us exists independently of our consciousness, can be investigated empirically, and the observed phenomena are quite explainable from a scientific point of view.

Modern science studies a person, firstly, as a representative of a biological species; secondly, he is regarded as a member of society; thirdly, the subject activity of a person is studied; fourthly, the patterns of development of a particular person are studied.

Psychology studies this inner world of a person's mental phenomena, whether they are aware or not.

The word "psychology" in translation from ancient Greek literally means "the science of the soul" (psyche - "soul", logos - concept, doctrine). The term "psychology" first appeared in scientific use in the 16th century. Initially, he belonged to a special science that dealt with the study of the so-called mental, or mental, phenomena, i.e., those that each person easily detects in his own mind as a result of self-observation. Later, in the XVII-XIX centuries. the field studied by psychology is expanding and includes not only conscious, but also unconscious phenomena.

concept "psychology" has both scientific and worldly meaning. In the first case, it is used to designate the relevant scientific discipline, in the second - to describe the behavior or mental characteristics of individuals and groups of people. Therefore, to one degree or another, each person becomes acquainted with "psychology" long before its systematic study.

Psychology - the science of the laws of the emergence, functioning and development of the psyche. The psyche cannot be reduced simply to the nervous system. Mental properties are the result of the neurophysiological activity of the brain, but they contain the characteristics of external objects, and not internal physiological processes, through which the psychic arises. Transformations of signals taking place in the brain are perceived by a person as events taking place outside him, in external space and the world. The brain secretes the psyche, thought, just as the liver secretes bile. The disadvantage of this theory is that they identify the psyche with nervous processes and do not see any qualitative differences between them.

Hence,objects domestic psychology is currently advocated by the system of mental phenomena of living beings (humans and animals), as well as the psychology of large (public, ethnic, religious, etc.) and small (corporate, industrial, etc.) groups of people. In turn, hersubject are the patterns of formation, functioning and development of these mental and psychological (socio-psychological) phenomena.

The objects and subject of psychology determine the list of scientific tasks solved within its framework.

Thus,psychology is the science of the psyche and mental phenomena. In order to answer this question, it is necessary to construct a classification of mental phenomena. Mental phenomena (of course, at a different level of organization) exist in animals as well. Therefore, psychology, studying a person, is also interested in the psyche of animals: how it arises and changes in the process of evolution of the animal world, what are the reasons for the difference between the human psyche and the psyche of other living beings.

In order to engage in any activity, communicate with other people, in order to navigate the world around, a person first of all needs to know it. Psychology studies what properties of reality a person learns through mental processes - sensations, perception, thinking, imagination, etc. Psychology also considers the psychological characteristics of various types of activity and communication and their influence on the psyche.

Although mental phenomena are subject to general laws, for each person they are individual. Therefore, psychology studies the individual psychological characteristics of people, their personalities, motives of behavior, temperament and character. We will divide mental phenomena into three main classes: mental processes, mental states and mental properties of the personality.

W The tasks of psychology basically boil down to the following:

Learn to understand the essence of mental phenomena and their patterns;

Learn to manage them;

Use the acquired knowledge in order to increase the efficiency of those branches of practice at the intersection with which already established sciences and branches lie.

The system of mental phenomena studied by modern psychology.

Mental phenomena are the totality of all phenomena and processes that reflect the main content of the human psyche and are studied by psychology as a science.

1 TO cognitive mental processes include mental processes associated with the perception and processing of information. They are divided into: cognitive, emotional, volitional.

2. Under mental properties Personality is usually understood as the most significant personality traits that provide a certain quantitative and qualitative level of human activity and behavior. Mental properties include orientation, temperament, abilities and character.

3. Mental states are a certain level of efficiency and quality of the functioning of the human psyche, characteristic at a particular point in time (rise, depression, fear, cheerfulness, despondency, etc.)

The phenomena studied by psychology are associated not only with a particular person, but also with groups. Mental phenomena associated with the vital activity of groups and collectives are studied in detail within the framework of social psychology.

All group mental phenomena can also be divided into mental processes, mental states and mental properties. In contrast to individual mental phenomena, the mental phenomena of groups and collectives are more clearly divided into internal and external.

Collective mental processes that act as the primary factor in regulating the existence of a team or group include communication, interpersonal perception, interpersonal relationships, the formation of group norms, intergroup relationships, etc. The mental states of a group include conflict, cohesion, psychological climate, openness or closeness of the group , panic, etc. Among the most significant mental properties of the group include organization, leadership style, efficiency.

1.2. So, for a long time, being one of the sections philosophy, psychology inevitably took from this science fundamentally important theoretical provisions that determine the approach to solving problems. Thus, philosophy is the methodological basis of psychology.

There is an obvious connection between psychology and natural sciences- biology, physiology, chemistry, physics, etc., with the help of which one can study the physiological and biological processes of the brain that underlie the psyche.

Psychology is closer to humanities(sociology, history, linguistics, art history, etc.) the study of the interaction of the individual and his immediate environment; interest in the peculiarities of the mental, spiritual make-up of a person in various historical eras; the role of language in the cultural and mental development of a person, the problem of creativity.

The link between psychology and pedagogy. It is possible to effectively teach and educate only on the basis of knowledge of the laws by which the human psyche develops.

The links between psychology and medicine. These sciences find common points of contact in the study of the problem of mental disorders, the psychological substantiation of the features of the interaction between the doctor and the patient, the diagnosis and treatment of a number of diseases.

The relationship between psychology and technical sciences manifests itself, on the one hand, in identifying the optimal psychological conditions for the interaction of man and machine, on the other hand, in the development of technical means, instruments for studying the manifestations of the psyche.

Modern psychology is among the sciences, occupying an intermediate position between the philosophical sciences, on the one hand, the natural sciences, on the other, and the social sciences, on the third. This is explained by the fact that the focus of her attention is always a person, who is also studied by the sciences named above, but in other aspects. It is known that philosophy and its integral part - the theory of knowledge (epistemology) solves the question of the attitude of the psyche to the surrounding world and interprets the psyche as a reflection of the world, emphasizing that matter is primary, and consciousness is secondary. Psychology, on the other hand, explains the role that the psyche plays in human activity and its development.

According to the classification of sciences of Academician A. Kedrov, psychology occupies a central place not only as a product of all other sciences, but also as a possible source of explanation for their formation and development.

Rice. one. Classification by A. Kedrov

The structure of modern psychology includes a wide range of branches of psychological science.

So, the features of the psyche of animals are studied by zoopsychology. The human psyche is studied by other branches of psychology: child psychology studies the development of consciousness, mental processes, activities, the entire personality of a growing person, the conditions for accelerating development. Social psychology studies the socio-psychological manifestations of a person's personality, his relationships with people, with a group, the psychological compatibility of people, socio-psychological manifestations in large groups (the effect of radio, the press, fashion, rumors on various communities of people). Pedagogical psychology studies the patterns of personality development in the process of education and upbringing. A number of branches of psychology can be distinguished that study the psychological problems of specific types of human activity: labor psychology considers the psychological characteristics of a person's labor activity, the patterns of development of labor skills. Engineering psychology studies the regularities of the processes of interaction between a person and modern technology in order to use them in the practice of designing, creating and operating automated control systems, new types of technology. Aviation, space psychology analyzes the psychological characteristics of the activity of a pilot, astronaut. Medical psychology studies the psychological characteristics of the doctor's activity and the behavior of the patient, develops psychological methods of treatment and psychotherapy. Pathopsychology studies deviations in the development of the psyche, the disintegration of the psyche in various forms of brain pathology. Legal psychology studies the psychological characteristics of the behavior of participants in a criminal process (psychology of testimonies, psychological requirements for interrogation, etc.), psychological problems of behavior and the formation of a criminal's personality. Military psychology studies human behavior in combat conditions.

1.3. Generally methodology determines the principles and methods by which a person is guided in his activities.

Domestic psychology distinguishes the following as methodological principles of materialistic psychology:

1. Principle determinism which is used to analyze the nature and essence of mental phenomena when considering the latter in conjunction with the phenomena of the external world. According to this principle, the psyche is determined by the way of life and changes with changes in external conditions, while being a determinant of human behavior and activity.

2. Principle unity of consciousness and activity, asserting that consciousness and activity are inseparable unity, which is expressed in the fact that consciousness and, in general, all mental properties of a person are not only manifested, but also formed in activity. This principle makes it possible, when studying activity, to identify those psychological patterns that ensure the success of achieving its goal.

3.Principle development means that the manifestations of the psyche can be correctly understood if they are considered in continuous development as a process and result of activity.

Methodological principles are embodied in special empirical methods of psychology, with the help of which essential facts, patterns and mechanisms of the psyche are revealed.

To basic methods psychological research include observation and experiment.

Observation as a method of psychology is to fix the manifestations of mental phenomena in behavior based on their direct perception.

Scientific observation is undertaken with a strictly defined goal, predetermined situations and behaviors that should become the object of study, as well as a developed system for fixing and recording results. It is important that several people participate in the observation, and the final assessment should be the average of the observations. These measures are taken to reduce the influence of the characteristics of the observer on the process of perception.

There are the following types of observation:

non-standardized, when the researcher uses the general observation plan;

standardized in which the registration of facts is based on detailed observation schemes, predetermined patterns of behavior.

Depending on the position of the observer, an observation is distinguished:

- included, when the researcher is a member of the group he is observing;

- simple, when the features of behavior are fixed from the outside. This is a passive method of obtaining psychological facts, since the researcher cannot influence the course of events or repeat them. Using this method, it is difficult to establish the exact cause of an act, action, since only their external manifestations are recorded. At the same time, the passivity of the observer makes it possible to study behavior in natural conditions without distorting the natural course of events as a result of interference, as can happen in an experiment.

Experiment differs from observation primarily in that it involves a purposeful organization of the research situation by the psychologist; this makes it possible to relatively strictly control the conditions of its conduct, not only to describe the psychological facts, but also to explain the reasons for their occurrence.

This advantage of the experiment often turns into a disadvantage: it is difficult to organize an experimental study so that the subject does not know about it. A person's knowledge that he is the subject of study, as a rule, causes the subject's stiffness, anxiety, etc., especially if the study is carried out in special conditions, for example, in an equipped laboratory (laboratory experiment).

Therefore, a natural experiment is often used, in which the researcher actively influences the situation, but in forms that do not violate its naturalness, for example, in the process of human labor activity.

In stating An experiment checks the existence of a connection between certain facts or phenomena. Formative the experiment involves the active, purposeful influence of the experimenter on the subject in order to form his psyche.

In addition to the main ones in psychology, auxiliary methods are distinguished:

poll- collection of primary verbal information using a pre-compiled set of questions in the process of direct (interview) or indirect (questionnaire) contact between the researcher and the subject;

tests- a system of standardized tasks that measure the level of development of a certain characteristic of a person - intelligence, creative abilities, etc.;

study of products of activity- quantitative and qualitative analysis of various documentary sources (diaries, videos, newspapers, magazines, etc.).

Depending on the objectives of a particular study, the methods of psychology are embodied in private methods (for example, the method of observation is implemented in various ways in the course of studying the work collective and the study group).

The degree of reliability of the results of applying the technique largely depends on the conditions in which the study is organized (time of day, the presence or absence of extraneous noise, the behavior of the researcher, the state of health of the subject, etc.).

Psychology… Spelling Dictionary

PSYCHOLOGY- PSYCHOLOGY, the science of the psyche, personality processes and their specifically human forms: perception and thinking, consciousness and character, speech and behavior. Soviet P. builds its own understanding of the subject of P. on the basis of the development of the ideological legacy of Marx ... ... Big Medical Encyclopedia

- (from the Greek soul and word, teaching), the science of the laws, mechanisms and facts of mental. human and animal life. The relationship of living beings with the world is realized through feelings. and wit. images, motivations, communication processes, ... ... Philosophical Encyclopedia

psychology- (from the Greek psyche soul and logos teaching, science) the science of the laws of development and functioning of the psyche as a special form of life. The interaction of living beings with the outside world is realized through qualitatively different from ... ... Great Psychological Encyclopedia

- (from psycho ... and ... ology) the science of the patterns, mechanism and facts of the mental life of humans and animals. The main theme of the psychological thought of antiquity and the Middle Ages is the problem of the soul (Aristotle, On the Soul, etc.). In the 17th and 18th centuries based… … Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (from psycho ... and ... ology), the science of the laws, mechanisms and facts of the mental life of humans and animals. The main theme of the psychological thought of antiquity and the Middle Ages is the problem of the soul (On the soul of Aristotle, etc.). In the 17th and 18th centuries based… … Modern Encyclopedia

psychology- and. well. psychology f. 1. The science of the psyche, the mental activity of a person. General psychology. ALS 1. Experimental psychology. Animal psychology. Ush. 1939. || An academic subject that sets out the content of this science. BAS 1. || A book that presents... ... Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

Psychology- (from psycho ... and ... ology), the science of the laws, mechanisms and facts of the mental life of humans and animals. The main theme of the psychological thought of antiquity and the Middle Ages is the problem of the soul (“On the Soul” by Aristotle and others). In the 17th and 18th centuries based… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Greek, from psyche soul, and logos teaching, science). The science of mental activity. Dictionary of foreign words included in the Russian language. Chudinov A.N., 1910. PSYCHOLOGY Greek, from psyche, soul, and lego, I say. The science of the soul. Explanation of 25000… … Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

PSYCHOLOGY, psychology, pl. no, female (Greek psyche soul and logos teaching) (book). 1. A science that studies mental processes that arise as a result of the constant impact of the objective world, the social environment on humans (and animals). ... ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

psychology i- PSYCHOLOGY I (ego psychology) is one of the areas of psychoanalytic psychology that arose in the middle of the 20th century, reflected in the works of A. Freud, X. Hartmann and focused on the study of the defense mechanisms of the I, as well as their connections and ... Encyclopedia of Epistemology and Philosophy of Science

Books

Psychology, Zharova M.N. The textbook was created in accordance with the federal state standard for secondary vocational education of the third generation for all specialties of medical and pharmaceutical ...