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 a science whose purpose is to study the mechanisms of the functioning of the human psyche. It examines the patterns of people's behavior in various situations, the thoughts, feelings and experiences that arise.
Psychology is what helps us to know ourselves deeper, to understand our problems and their causes, 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 phenomena andprocesses studied by this science. 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 science, psychology has practical applications. 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, to avoidconflicts, learn to respect the interests of other people and reckon with them.
Processes in psychology
The human psyche is a single whole. All processes occurring in it are closely interconnected and cannot exist one without the other. That is why dividing them 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 the human brain reacts and responds to influences from the outside world.
Emotional mental processes 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 andsubjective. Scientific psychology is a science based on rational data obtained through experiments or professional observations. All her positions are thoughtful 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 help 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. It can be used to explain various phenomena and processes occurring in the human psyche.
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 personusing the biographical method. It is based on a comparison and analysis of various events in an individual's life, key moments in his development, identification of crisis stages and defining stages of development.
