For the first time, Socrates pointed to the distinction between the soul and the body. He defined the soul as the mind, which is the beginning of the divine. It was in ancient times that the development of psychology began. Socrates defended the idea of the immortality of the soul. Thus, for the first time, there was a movement towards an idealistic understanding of this substance.
The development of psychology did not stand still. In the 17th century, a methodological setting different from the already existing ones appeared - empiricism. If before that knowledge oriented towards authority and tradition dominated, then from now on it is perceived as something inspiring doubt. There have been significant discoveries and insights reflecting recent developments insystem of scientific thinking. Psychology on a centuries-old historical path of development was considered the science of the soul, consciousness, psyche, behavior.
Each of these terms is associated with both substantive content and confrontation of opposing views. But, despite this, common points of view, common thoughts have been preserved, at the intersection of which new and different ideas have arisen. The periods of development of psychology were often singled out at those times when any significant changes took place in the life of society, or in related sciences - philosophy, medicine - new knowledge appeared that provided a starting point for changing pre-existing views. For example, in the Middle Ages, new psychological concepts were driven by the great triumph of mechanics and mathematics. The first psychological concept, created taking into account mathematics and mechanics, belonged to R. Descartes. He considered the organism as an automatic system working mechanically. The development of psychology in a slightly different direction was continued by F. Bacon, who sought to cleanse the human mind of prejudices and superstitions that obscure it. It is to him that the famous saying belongs: “Knowledge is power”. The scientist called for an experimental study of the world, assigning the leading role in solving this issue to experiment, and not to contemplation and observation.
Man gains power over nature, skillfully asks her questions and wrests secrets from her with the help of specially invented tools.
The development of psychology in the 17th century is revealed infollowing development exercises:
- about the living body as a mechanical system in which there is no place for any hidden qualities or soul;
- the doctrine of consciousness as an inherent ability of each individual with the help of internal observation to obtain the most accurate knowledge of their mental states;
- the doctrine of affects as regulators of behavior embedded in the body, which direct a person to what is useful for him and turn away from what is harmful;
- the doctrine of the relationship between physiological and mental.
Features of the development of psychology in the 19th and 20th centuries were marked by the emergence of new trends: psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanistic psychology. The rapid development of society and science, as in the Middle Ages and in the era of antiquity, prompted the emergence of views that differ from those that previously existed. During this period, various branches of psychological science stood out and finally took shape.
