Historical psychology: concept, emergence, directions

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

Each science is characterized by the presence of several areas devoted to the study of any one issue or their combination related to one area of interest. Just such a direction is cultural-historical psychology.

Its emergence is associated with the names of both Russian and French scientists. And this science appeared relatively recently - at the beginning of the last century. Accordingly, it is very young and is still in its infancy, development, but already has its own separate directions.

What is this?

Historical psychology is a scientific direction that deals with issues of self-consciousness, aspects of personal manifestations of people in certain time periods. Of interest to scientific research are the nuances that are characteristic of thinking, personal aspects and self-consciousness of individuals and society as a whole, its various social classes and cultural groups.

In other words, the subject of historical psychology is manifestations of personalityperson within a particular historical epoch. Science studies the relationship between time, the psyche and consciousness, their mutual penetration and the influence of one on the other.

How long ago and where did this direction appear?

For the first time the concept of "historical psychology" was introduced into use in the middle of the last century by Emil Meyerson. It happened in 1948 in France. However, this science cannot be called Western European.

This trend is based on the work of the Soviet scientist Lev Vygotsky. Most of his works, which examine the relationship between historical eras and the psychological aspects of personality, date back to the 20s of the last century. However, terminology combining the words "culture", "history", "psychology" was not used in the works of the scientist.

The name "cultural-historical theory" arose only in the 30s of the last century, and not among the followers of Vygotsky and scientists who shared his views, but in exposing criticism. For what reason the psychological theory, which does not carry any anti-Soviet or anti-communist thought, was subjected to various accusations and persecutions, is not entirely clear. But be that as it may, critics of the works of Vygotsky and his followers have benefited historical psychology, practically introducing a term that most accurately defines the junction of areas in which the circle of its interests is located.

Starting from the 30s, this area of science has found its followers in Western European countries and, of course, inUSA. By the middle of the last century, this scientific direction took shape, its areas of interest and subjects of study were determined.

What are their own directions in this science?

Historical psychology is a relatively young discipline that has not yet reached the centennial milestone in its existence. Despite such a young age for science, it already has two own directions, within which it develops.

They are simply called:

• horizontal;
• vertical.

The names were not chosen by chance. They capture the essence of the issues and topics that are explored within their boundaries.

What is the difference between domestic destinations?

The historical psychology of the horizontal direction is a kind of plane, an even cut from today to the depths of time. In other words, within the framework of the horizontal direction, absolutely all personal aspects, characteristics, types of behavior and thinking patterns characteristic of people during specific historical eras are studied. Of course, the issues of the relationship between the characteristics of the psychology of people and the time they are in are also touched upon.

The vertical direction is occupied with slightly different issues, of course, in common with those that are studied within the horizontal. This scientific area is devoted to the knowledge of the features and nuances of development, the transformation of certain psychological functions during various historical eras and their time periods.

What's happening now?

Historical developmentpsychology was very difficult. Of course, the formation of its individual areas, including historical and cultural, also went on.

At the moment, representatives of this area of scientific activity use the so-called "maladaptive" type of correlation between the nature and mechanisms of the development of psychological processes with time intervals as a postulate.

In the works of Vygotsky, who is considered the founder, founding father of this field of psychology, the idea is expressed that the main subject for study should be human consciousness. It is expressed through cultural instruments, such as a word or some other sign left by people.

At the moment, this basic, pivotal idea of historical psychology has not been finally deduced. In other words, today the scientific direction is no longer in its infancy, but still in a very undeveloped state.