Subject, tasks, methods and principles of psychology

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Psychology is a very old science. In a literal translation from the ancient Greek language - this is the "science of the soul." In a general sense, psychology studies the laws of development and functioning associated with the activity of the human psyche within the framework of one individual or group of people. In a practical and everyday sense, psychology (we will consider the principles in the article) is used to help those who are confused in their lives or in themselves. But everything is not so simple. There are a lot of branches, principles, tasks and methods in psychology, which we will consider below, but for now we will concentrate on the development of this science.

History

Psychology originated in Antiquity. Many scientists and philosophers of that time began to think about the human soul (psyche). Few written works have survived to this day. But it was in Antiquity that the first foundations for psychology as a science were laid. For example, Hippocrates made a classification of temperaments, Platowas engaged in psychoanalysis, brought out some foundations in psychology that are still relevant today. But there was another important person named Aristotle in the history of psychology, who, one might say, laid the foundation for science by writing a treatise "On the Soul", which deals in detail with many issues of the human psyche.

In the Middle Ages, people are interested in human consciousness in terms of faith and religion. But in the new time there is development. In 1590, the term "psychology" was first used by Rudolf Goklenius in the designation of the science of the soul. Around the same time, Otto Kasman first uses the word in a more modern scientific sense. Also, many modern scientists already believed that the soul and body have a "different nature" (Rene Descartes).

In the 19th century, psychology firmly occupied its niche as a full-fledged science. Officially, the year of birth is considered to be 1789, when Wilhelm Wundt organized the first psychological laboratory. Ernst Weber, Hermann Helmholtz and many other scientists also made a great contribution to the development of science.

In the twentieth century, psychology has reached a completely different level. Both medicine and biology have developed. Mankind already knew about the interconnections of the brain, about the influence of the psyche on the person himself, but it was in the 20th century that various therapies and methods began to be put into practice. There were many prominent psychologists of that time, whose ideas were sometimes contradictory and criticized, nevertheless, thanks to many hypotheses, psychology developed. For example, Sigmund Freud brought out psychoanalysis, brought out the theoryconscious and unconscious. There were also Carl Gustav Jung, Alfred Adler, Erich Fromm and other scientists.

In the last century, psychology began to actively divide into schools, currents, types. For example, at the beginning of the century, Gest alt psychology initially appeared in Germany (which is still relevant all over the world), and the American psychologist John Watson deduced the basic principles in the psychology of behavior. This is how behaviorism appeared.

Science went hand in hand with history. During the First World War, psychodiagnostics was used to test soldiers. Types are also distinguished: for example, cognitive, social and cultural-historical psychology (based on Marxism). But this was not the limit. Scientists also began to notice how psychology intertwined with many other sciences. So, for example, psycholinguistics arose.

In the current century, when equipment and technology came to the rescue, the emphasis is on the study of neural networks using tomography, not fully identified brain functions and so on.

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Of course, a person acts as a subject of activity. The subject is the psyche and the laws of its development, functioning, the ability to reflect reality, act as an intermediary between the individual and the world, society. An important role is played by the laws of mental processes, how information is absorbed by the psyche and ultimately affects the activity and behavior of a person, depending on his individual characteristics.

Objects of study

As we have already seen from the history of psychology, science has changed all the time depending on various factors. Despite all the progress in development, the object of attention of psychologists, philosophers, scientists and even ordinary people was different every period:

• The longest time since the 2nd millennium B. C. and ending with the 17th century AD, scientists and thinkers paid special attention to the knowledge of the soul. It was she who was the object of study all this time. It is worth noting that the soul was understood in different ways: as a part of the physical body (in the modern world, the human psyche would be called that) or as something ideal, intangible, eternal, ethereal, sometimes divine.
• From the 17th century. to the beginning of the 20th century Consciousness was the object of psychology. Religion is not as influential as in past centuries, people have become more materialistic. Descartes suggested that consciousness determines being, the psychology of a particular individual. He also believed that everything is subjective and should be questioned.
• Late XIX - early XX centuries. Just with the development of a new branch in psychology - behaviorism - human behavior becomes an object. The main formula of adherents of such a theory was that a stimulus generates a reaction.
• In the 50s of the last century, psychologists finally began to focus on the psyche.

Problems of psychology

Science exists for a reason and carries important, useful goals for society and people individually. The tasks of psychology include: the study of mentalphenomena and their psychological mechanisms, analyzing how such processes are formed and developed, and, most importantly, how the information obtained can be applied in practice in life (for example, how a psychologist can help a person cope with a difficult situation in life).

Methods

The principle of psychology also lies in the fact that psychologists use different methods to reveal something new, with regard to both a particular individual and science in general:

• The experimental method is one of the most important. It is also called laboratory, because for this method, people are usually placed in artificially created situations in order to find out how they behave and draw certain conclusions.
• The method of scientific observation implies an explanation of a process within its natural course, based on theory. So, for example, psychologists or scientists observe a person and the course of his actions, reactions, speech.
• Testing means identifying some features through testing. Questions may be different, goals too.
• Studying the products of human activity. For example, handwriting, drawings, etc., which can talk about their "creator", what kind of character he is (whether he is creative, sloppy, illegible, diligent, calm, etc.).
• Psychologists also often use biographical analysis. In other words, they diagnose a person's life, his habits, family, ways of adapting to society. SoIn this way, one can predict what the future life will be like, how further relationships with people will develop, in the family, at work, what crises will be, as well as ways to overcome possible difficulties.

The methods don't end there. There are also comparative genetic modeling, psychological modeling, and others, but above we looked at the 5 most basic ways to study something in the science of the soul.

Principles

Scientists single out the theoretical basic principles of psychology because they are needed as fundamental statements without which science itself would not be possible:

• Determinism (definability) - this means the recognition of the fact that human consciousness, the ability to think and other mental processes are the result of socialization, the influence of society on human development (at an early age).
• Unity of activity and consciousness. That is, all our actions are the influence of our mind; in other words, people do everything consciously.
• The principle of development in psychology. The psyche is always changing, developing, it cannot "freeze" once and for all.
• Personal approach. Each person is individual, despite the fact that the psyche in general can function according to certain laws. But in a private approach, it is simply necessary to take into account the personality and character of the individual.

We have covered the most basic principles in general psychology. They affect all other branches, however, there are more special cases with their own bases,which we will now consider.

Domestic psychology

This science is more specific than the general. Domestic scientists also contributed to the development and occupied their own niche as theoretical psychologists. Therefore, it is worth noting that the principles of domestic psychology are slightly different:

• Materialistic monism means the need to first consider the mental-physiological processes in order to move from physiology to the processes of the psyche.
• Reflection. Such a principle lies in the fact that consciousness reflects objective reality subjectively.
• The unity of theory and practice - to solve practical problems, you need to take part in theoretical research.
• The principle of objectivity. Although some psychologists are of the opinion that the inner world of a person is very subjective, and therefore unknowable, most still believe that one can objectively judge thoughts, desires, motives, experiences by considering his actions, activities, analysis of speech, words, behavior.
• Determinism, the development of the psyche, the unity of consciousness and activity (as in general psychology).

Basic principles of developmental psychology

The bases and goals of this branch are also more private. Developmental psychology is important in practice, since development, crises, life stages, psychological trauma, personality development, changes, working with children and much more are associated with age.

In addition to the above general principles, developmental psychology also highlightstaking into account age-related personality changes and individual approach to a person, identifying his characteristics in order to predict further development.