Practical psychology is an applied discipline. This is a branch of psychology, within which the study of the practical application of this science takes place. Thus, scientific practical psychology is not a synonym for popular, everyday, everyday, and even more so not a public "VKontakte". It finds application in practice - in working with patients and providing social services.
Terminology
Practical psychology is a science that focuses only on the field of psychology itself and its application in practice. Until the 19th century, this section was called experimental, currently the synonym "applied" is common. However, applied psychology, although also concerned with the application of the discipline in practice, is focused on related areas of activity and studies it within specific areas: advertising, education, sports, etc.
It is incorrect to use the epithets "applied" and "practical" in this case in the same sense. Practical psychology is a branch of science that deals with the practice of psychology itself, and as for applied psychology, the practice is aimed at related areas. Besides,the practical one speaks to society in the simple language of the townsfolk, as opposed to the dry, replete with terms of the presentation of the applied discipline.
Problems
Theory is often ahead of practice, which is why sciences have poorly substantiated assumptions and hypotheses. These gaps need to be filled with something. In psychology, for practical purposes and to fill in the gaps, so-called metaphors are used - unsupported, but working techniques that are a specific part of the discipline in question.
The problem, which is acutely posed before practical psychology, is that the demands of the real world do not correspond to the theoretical basis. From this come the main tasks of this science.
Main tasks of practical psychology
The main tasks faced by practical psychology are dictated by the theoretical base and conditions of the real world:
- individual psychological counseling for patients whose disorders are partially or completely refractory to treatment;
- conducting group trainings (including in a corporate and business environment);
- psychological support of social spheres.
Application
Knowledge of practical psychology is transmitted along a peculiar chain: from psychology they are addressed to a psychotherapist, and from a psychotherapist (or psychoanalyst) they are transmitted to his patient. Psychotherapeutic work is an essential part of practical psychology. So, individual client consultationalways associated with unique personal problems that do not have a specific solution based on theoretical knowledge. That is why doctors test different techniques and their combinations, trying to understand what exactly is right for a particular patient.
Other questions can be very narrow - such as questions of personal success, time management, business psychology. Others, on the contrary, affect broad layers of education or personal development.
Practical psychology and other branches of science
What does practical social psychology do? Now it will become clear. The fact is that in order to solve the problems of practical psychology, one has to cooperate with other areas of science. This is how new applied industries appear, which receive their names depending on the area in which it is used. It can be practical psychology of education, social, legal, medical, sports or pedagogical. All of them are united by a feature in the orientation towards the academic research field of knowledge.
Methods of practical psychology
A special place in applied industries is occupied by objective scientific methods, that is, experiments, observations and tests. The methods of academic psychology in this case are considered unsuitable. Research into psychic reality is inferior to real practice. Much of this has to do with human subjectivity.
Methods of practical psychology acceptedclassify into two kinds:
- Individual - used when a psychologist works with a patient one on one. Psychoanalysis is included in this section.
- Group - psychological consultations in the form of trainings, the formation of gest alt groups and other types of correction in groups.
In addition, scientific methods are often borrowed from those branches with which this science cooperates and which form it. For example, methods of reinforcement and suggestion are borrowed from pedagogy.
The method of psychological counseling, due to the complexity and certain specifics, should be considered separately. In general, it includes counseling and psychotherapeutic work.
Schools
The following schools are of great importance for practical psychology:
- Psychoanalysis - first proposed and introduced by Sigmund Freud and still in use today. Based on the identification and study of unconscious internal and irrational drives.
- Behaviorism is a direction in which the main subject of study is not consciousness, but the behavior of the patient. Currently, most of it is being replaced by cognitive psychology.
- Cognitive psychology - focused on the cognitive processes of human consciousness: memory, attention, imagination. Also, research is related to the study of logical thinking, decision making and the problem of choice.
- Humanistic psychology - as the basis is taken, as the name implies, humanism, that is, love for a person as a person, recognition of this unique and integral system. BasedThis, the manifestations of self-actualization and development of the personality, its adaptation in society, creative self-expression, etc. are studied.
Training
Those interested in practical psychology can get an education in this specialization. Bachelors and masters in the relevant direction are trained by both public and private higher educational institutions. In addition, this direction can be additional to the main profile of education. It is on this principle that graduates are trained, for example, by the Kirov Institute of Practical Psychology.
Professions
Practical psychology is a section of knowledge that is used by representatives of the following professions:
- psychotherapist;
- coach-trainer;
- psychologist-trainer.
And if for the first the presence of a basic psychological education is a prerequisite, then, for example, a coach can only have an additional reprofiling one. This is a vivid example of how the discipline under consideration is in contact with the real world and its requirements - the task of the coach is to promote and help the client achieve the goal. A practical and solid task. Either it's done or it's not.
As part of psychological counseling, the task - to deal directly with the patient's problems - is also set precisely and clearly.
Practical psychology: books
Books in the area under consideration belong to the scientific and popular science genre. Often they answer specific questions: how to understand what other people feel and think; how to treat yourself and people? In addition, there are only educational publications (T. V. Gudkevich, "Practical psychology: an introduction to the speci alty"; M. Gulina, "Counseling psychology: a textbook") and practical guides (D. Raigorodsky, "Psychological counseling"; N. V. Tarabrina, "Practical guide to the psychology of post-traumatic stress").
