Psychology. 2. Main branches of psychology (team of authors, 2016)

Recently, psychological science has been developing at a rapid pace, due to a large number of theoretical and practical problems. The main branches of psychology are one of the most progressive scientific areas, united by a single subject of study, the psyche. Therefore, they are classified depending on whose psyche is being studied, what aspects are being considered and under what conditions this happens.

Foundation of Science

The general psychology of the discipline as a whole is based on simple questions that stand in the way of this science, their study, theoretical principles, methods of cognition, patterns and subsequent development in real human life.

The most important issue is the psyche. In its study, they try to give answers to questions such as: what is it, the psyche? Functionality, schematic? What laws does it obey in ontogenesis and phylogenesis? Stages of development, criteria? The relationship between the brain and the psyche? How does the innate psyche differ from the acquired one? Sociality and biology? By what principles can we distinguish normal development from abnormal development?

Considering fundamental questions is not the only thing science studies.

In addition, she pays attention to procedural specifics, its properties and situations. The main subject of study is a person, that is, his personality, activities, communication with other people, knowledge - these questions are submitted to practical and theoretical study

In some cases, these issues are isolated as a separate mental phenomenon, human activity, and cognitive processes.

Typically, general questions are based around the more personal branch of psychology related to self-knowledge. For example, phylogeny examines mental problems in comparison with animal psychology, comparing the development of the human psyche and the animal.

Ontogenetic development directly depends on age, psychological development - the balance between the brain and the mental system (in psychophysiology, neuropsychology); deviations in formation - special psychology examines what constant criteria the connection between the individual and society takes place; the creation and subsequent re-creation of groups - social psychology, a function of work activity; personal development of a person; the rule of education and training and pedagogical features of actions (teacher discipline).

Definition of psychology as a science

Psychological sciences give a person the opportunity to know the people around him and himself. Understanding others, in turn, provides recognition in society, which is important for the quality of life.

What does psychology study? The modern discipline is aimed at considering a number of theories and practical techniques, combining the most effective techniques. It is divided into scientific and applied:

Scientific psychology. The study of personal characteristics, behavior in society, human development.
Applied psychology. Solves current problems and pressing issues by applying a number of specialized principles.

After realizing the concept that this is psychology, it becomes clear that the subject of research by modern specialists is the human personality, his thinking, the creation of characteristic features. A person who does not have basic knowledge of psychology has fewer advantages compared to an individual who is knowledgeable in this field. In particular, he is more prone to panic and stress states, which are a response to negative phenomena. A person familiar with the basics of psychology is resistant to the negative impact of unpredictable details on his perception of reality.

Branches of psychology

Each branch of psychology has its own personal ideas, which include an individual sequence of subjects that compare individual criteria and mental problems.

Developmental psychology includes children's psychology, divided by each age, adolescence, youth, and the sphere of a formed person, elderly and senile age - gerontopsychology.

A special branch of psychology has contracts: pathopsychology, which studies the law of disintegration of mental activity in any disease, oligophrenopsychology - studies the correlation of mental retardation, typhlopsychology - the study of blind people, and deaf psychology, the study of the deaf.

Social psychology includes the study of contact, the relationship between people, groups, and individual qualities of a person (person).

The labor structure has several divisions. In general, it provides a basic field of knowledge in relation to established types of human occupation, such as the branch of engineering that comprehends human, human-machine work activities, the field of aviation, management, and many other professions.

Subject and object of psychology

These concepts are studied in the process of obtaining professional education. And also when receiving medical education (a psychologist is not always a doctor, but a psychotherapist and psychiatrist have the status of doctors who can prescribe medication treatments for clients).

Item

The subject of psychology is the study of how various mental phenomena are formed, develop and cease

Object An object is much wider than a subject. The object is the psyche as a whole and everything connected with it. The object includes elements of the subject

The objects of psychology as a science include the following elements and processes:

Mental processes (feelings and emotions, relationships, connections, love, friendship, manipulation, abusive and codependent relationships, etc.);
Conditions (also feelings and emotions, anxiety, nervousness, paranoia, perfectionism, empathy, melancholy, depression, bipolar disorder, nostalgia, schizophrenia, hedonism, conformism, frustration, sublimation, time pressure, misanthropy, etc.);
Properties (these include a person’s character, including egocentrism, psychotype, personality types, introversion and extraversion, cynicism, altruism, etc.);
Education (knowledge and skills, as well as habits of a particular person. For example, reflection, addictions, etc.)

Other areas used in the branches of psychology

From a theoretical point of view, it is permissible to single out any industry, but practice shows that this is not always possible. As a cheat sheet, you can remember a short series of subtypes.

Space. In this form, they study the readiness for work of the future cosmonaut, how prepared the person is for the future flight. In addition, they establish a number of tips that will help you quickly adapt to work. After the flights, the astronaut undergoes a course of psychological rehabilitation and other important procedures.
Aviation section – work with pilots, dispatchers, and other aviation employees.
Industrial and organizational branch of psychology. In some cases, other branches of science are added to the industrial type, for example, the field of management, in other words, private activity.
The branch of psychology aimed at medicine and pathopsychology. The main action is to build a connection between workers in medicine and psychology, but most often specialists study patients, not their doctors.
Pedagogy. Criteria and features of teaching children and teaching adults. Consequences of advanced and continuous education. For example, the school section.
The study of jurisprudence, the legal branch of science. A very serious industry, since it involves the study of rather difficult issues outside the rule of law. The fight against corruption and permissiveness is underway (this also applies to law enforcement agencies).
Tourism. The science that studies human leisure.
Sports section of science. Not so long ago, this branch was widely popular, especially after the Olympics in the USSR. Now it is losing its position, but it does not cease to be an industry.
Scientific research aimed at advertising and mass and impact.
A type of policy study that has recently gained popularity. Especially during the election period.
The military industry has a wide sector of activity. This can be the work of a specialist with the military in peacetime or at points of military action. Its goal is the moral preparation of a soldier for different occasions.

How psychology was born

During the period of antiquity, philosophy took upon itself the responsibility of studying man. Philosophers of that time adopted the concept of soul . It was she who personified the psyche and all its manifestations (emotional state, behavior).

Socrates viewed personality as a set of one's own values, beliefs, and life positions. He paid great attention to mental abilities, which he explored through conversation.

Aristotle identified 3 forms of the soul: plant, animal and rational. He argued that a person goes through all of them during growing up. He called the heart the main sense organ, and the soul the engine of the whole person.

In the Middle Ages, people were closely associated with religion, which preached that a person consists of a physical shell and a soul that completely fills it.

Already during the Renaissance, Descartes introduced the concept of a reflex, which formed the basis of psychology : an irritant comes from the outside world, an impulse passes through the brain, which gives back a human reaction.

The scientist Leibniz argued that there is a relationship between the soul and the body, and not, as they said before, they exist separately according to their own rules. He also first introduced the concept of the unconscious.

And Locke singled out the concept of consciousness. He distinguished between the accumulation of experience that comes from the external world and that experience that arises after reflection.

Müller, Weber, Fechner are famous physiologists who worked to prove the existence of reflexes , disprove the existence of a soul, and study mental processes.

Wundt first opened an institute in Leipzig in 1875 where experiments were carried out. It was there that psychology established itself as a science.

Continuous communication

The entire chain of psychological branches has an inextricable connection with each other. It is this close connection that helps to study methods, experiments, and schemes in more depth. For example, the pedagogical type is based on the study of problems with the upbringing or education of children. Meanwhile, general psychology helps it with its knowledge about the entire principle of development of the human psyche, about the procedural and differential part of science - patterns and options, thanks to which it is possible to identify individual criteria of the psyche and create a method of individual approach.

In turn, the age-related type of science helps with knowledge about the principle of development of the mental personality at different stages of age, a way to control the formation, without which it is impossible to build more than one method of teaching or educating the individual. Next, the social type has the necessary knowledge for communication and their characteristics, and as you know, any learning is a process of education through communication and the formation of groups. And with the help of a special scientific branch, students are selected for special educational centers for the subsequent process of training and education. And the science of labor is the main component of pedagogy.

Perception

Perception is a cognitive process that forms the subject’s picture of the world. A mental operation that reflects an object or phenomenon that affects the receptors of the sense organs. Perception is a complex function that determines the reception and transformation of information and forms a subjective image of an object for the subject. Through attention, a whole object is discovered, its special features and content are highlighted, and a sensory image is formed, i.e. comprehension occurs.

Perception is divided into four levels:

Detection (perceptual action) – image formation;
Discrimination (perceptual action) is the perception of the image itself;
Identification (recognition action) - identification of an object with existing images;
Identification (identification action) – categorization of an object.

Perception also has its own properties: structure, objectivity, apperception, selectivity, constancy, meaningfulness. More information about perception can be found in the articles “Sensation and Perception” and “Mental Processes: Types and Brief Description.”

Practical psychology

A special place in the classification of branches of psychology is given to practical psychology - a system of services aimed at providing psychological assistance to the population.
The main goal of this direction is to create psychological and social conditions suitable for a person in all spheres of life. Its structure includes the following areas and services:

family and social protection;
health systems;
education systems;
management, political activity;
practical legal psychology and sociology;
socio-psychological service of the army;
practical psychology of work and career guidance;
practical psychology and sociology of economics and business;
psychology and pedagogy of sports.

Since the tasks of the main branches of psychology often overlap, and the methods of providing assistance often coincide, there are quite close connections between them, which determine a more complete study of the subject of research in certain conditions.

Basic psychological concepts.

The first systematic course in psychology was created by the German psychiatrist Emil Kalperin in 1883. Since then, many schools and concepts have emerged within psychological science that try to explain certain mental phenomena.

Psychoanalysis or Freudianism.

The most popular concept known outside of psychological science. Named after its founder, Sigmund Freud, who was the first to divide three levels of mental life: consciousness (Ego or I), preconscious (super-I), unconscious (It or libido). Gradually, psychoanalysis was enriched with new ideas, theories, and psychoanalytic concepts.

Take the Freud test

Logotherapy.

The idea of finding the meaning of life is based on the idea of the Austrian psychiatrist Viktor Frankl. In this regard, the category of the meaning of life is contrasted with the eternal search for pleasure, which was promoted by Freud.

Gestalt psychology.

It arose thanks to the efforts of German psychologists Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Köhler, Kurt Koffka as an attempt to build a psychological theory by analogy with physics. The term “Gestalt” itself denotes holistic formations of consciousness, and the main explanatory principle of Gestalt psychology is the principle of integrity.

Humanistic psychology.

The direction was formed within the framework of the humanistic approach. Its most prominent representatives are A. Maslow and K. Rogers. According to humanistic theory, the main goal of human existence is self-actualization, self-realization, and continuous self-development. Spiritual (Christian) psychology can be considered a branch of the humanistic concept.

Cognitivism.

The word “cognitive” is translated from Latin as “to know.” The main representatives of the movement are George Kelly and Aron Beck, who said: “human feelings and actions are determined by thinking.” Proponents of the concept defend the opinion that a person is not a machine that blindly reacts to changes in the external world, but a thinking person, capable of analyzing information, his actions and behavior, making comparisons, and solving problems.

Behaviorism.

The founder of behaviorism (translated as “behavior”) is the American psychologist John Watson, who developed the idea of the relationship between behavior, stimulus and transmitting reaction. The motto of behaviorism is “psychology is the science of behavior,” and consciousness is not studied here because it does not have behavioral indicators.

Transpersonal (transpersonal).

Translated, it means “the soul on the other side of the mask.” Explores human spirituality, transpersonal experiences in all forms and manifestations, as well as parapsychological phenomena, karmic dynamics, unresolved psychotraumas of birth. Transpersonal techniques focus on unusual states of consciousness - intuition, meditative trance, hypnosis, mediumship. The founder of the direction and inventor of the main technique for “immersion into oneself” (holotropic breathing) is S. Grof.

Take the intuition test

Interactive.

The name of the direction is translated as “interaction” - “social interaction”. The purpose of the direction is to study the laws of interaction: harmonious, positive, disharmonious, conflict. The founder of the interactive concept is George Mead, and its popularizer is Eric Berne.

Branches of modern psychology

A library-bibliographic classification can also give a certain idea of the main areas of modern psychology, knowledge of which can be useful for psychologists when working with literature on any problem in library catalogs.

Depending on the research method or psychological practice, such branches of psychology are distinguished as scientific and practical psychology, experimental psychology, mathematical psychology, psychodiagnostics, psychotherapy, and counseling psychology.

It is natural to assume that the listed branches of psychology, areas of psychological research and psychological practice should be reflected to one degree or another in the curricula of psychological education.

Which of the above branches of psychological science and practice should be included among the academic disciplines within a specific educational program? This depends on the following factors:

1. The authority of the relevant branch of knowledge in the scientific world. The more authority a science, field of scientific research or practice enjoys, the more

it is more likely to be included in the curriculum of the educational program.

2. The goals of the educational program and understanding of the significance of each discipline for psychological education. The more the importance of a given science or branch of knowledge for the implementation of the goals of a given educational program is realized, the more likely it is that it will be included in the number of academic disciplines.

3. Teachers who can teach courses in relevant disciplines. An academic discipline is introduced into the curriculum only if there are teaching staff with the appropriate qualifications; The professional specialization of a teacher working at the university and the area of his scientific interests contribute to the inclusion of the corresponding academic discipline in the curriculum.

4. Real resources of teaching time within the framework of this educational program. Given the limited time allocated to any educational program, the principle “the more the better” is inappropriate, since it leads to overload. Therefore, despite the importance of individual academic subjects, they are not included in the curriculum.

5. Methodological equipment of the relevant discipline. It is advisable to include a scientific discipline or branch of knowledge in the curriculum if there are certain teaching aids, although there are a number of cases when the inclusion of a discipline in the curriculum has become an incentive for the development of appropriate teaching aids.

Traditionally, the curriculum of higher educational institutions includes those disciplines that have certain teaching traditions and demonstrate a high level of scientific knowledge. This set of disciplines is quite typical, so the content of basic psychological courses in many countries is quite similar. Specific psychological disciplines studied by students in various educational programs in Russia, Europe and America will be discussed in the following sections of the book.

Also read:

Phenomena and definition of attention Conflicts in the implementation of the “organizational imperative” and in the process of developing and making management decisions Information theory of emotions (P.V. Simonov) Consciousness and the unconscious (C.G. Jung) Magical (magical) thinking

Methods of psychology.

Almost all methods of psychology can be combined into two groups:

Empirical. Based on the collection, recording, and interpretation of facts. They use methods of mathematical statistics that allow them to work with large volumes of data and build patterns.
Experimental. Based on modeling situations of interaction between the individual and the environment, where the necessary psychological reactions could be observed. These are the so-called social experiments (Stanford prison experiment, M. Sheriff's cave of robbers, Stanley Milgram's obedience experiment).

The main object of psychological research is human psychology, therefore science uses the same research methods that can be applied in everyday life:

Observation is a descriptive method that involves purposefully perceiving and describing a person.
An experiment is a specially conducted psychological experience that helps to gain new knowledge about the subject.
Self-observation is a purposeful and meaningful observation of one’s emotions, reactions, desires, motives, which should not develop into self-digging.
An interview is an oral or written conversation that helps clarify and identify a range of problems that are not observable.
A survey is a short-term written or oral test with pre-formulated questions that helps assess and identify individual psychological differences, skills, and abilities.
Testing is the study, identification, assessment of certain psychological qualities after passing specially prepared tests.
Biographical research is a method in which a person’s life path is studied, diagnosed, corrected, and predicted.

As a rule, in order to provide the psychologist with the most accurate and comprehensive psychological portrait of the interlocutor, methods are combined for each specific case. For example, tests and interviews may be used in hiring. During a psychotherapy session, a psychologist can use observation and experimentation, and ask the client to do his homework - to observe himself.

Work of specialists

In all industries, the psychologist faces a difficult task

Firstly, it is important for him to take into account the position of a person in a particular field of work. Secondly, it is necessary not to disturb your subjective psyche

Thus, the specialist spends most of his time studying, and in some cases, taking the working industry as a stakeholder to optimize a group of people (team). Over time, the specialist becomes a participant in the process and an employee of a team, since it is he who puts pressure on the work of a group of people. Therefore, psychologists are in demand in various industrial sectors and organizations.

Large companies hire several psychologists for permanent work. There are cases when additional professional persons are invited to join the main group, for example, during the reorganization of a company. Such a group sets tasks for itself and then carries them out. In such industries, his main task is tactics and efficiency.

But you can often find distrust in leadership positions towards psychological help. Therefore, an applied psychologist faces a serious task and a forced measure to take responsibility for an accurate strategy of issues, establishing a plan and options for subsequent actions, while simultaneously working on the culture of management positions, customers and ordinary workers.

Practical psychology happens a little differently. Special practice is based on working with a ward who completely trusts the specialist. Then the psychologist himself sets certain tasks and a study strategy, followed by intervention in the ward’s problem.

Is it possible to learn psychology on your own?

In the modern world, when there is the Internet and the opportunity to get all the resources for learning, this is possible. You can take courses in psychology (they are not equivalent to professional education), buy and read specialized literature, watch video lessons, or go to our website. Therefore, knowledge is quite accessible.

The main thing is to have time and desire. And also the purpose of your training.

It is important to understand that such self-education cannot be equated with education at a university. What does it mean? You will not be able to provide services to people on a monetary and professional basis.

Main branches of psychology and sections

Modern psychology includes several dozen independent branches.
Moreover, new ones appear quite often. This is due to the enormous demand for psychological science in all spheres of human activity. The basis can be called the fundamental branches of modern psychology, which are united by common theoretical principles, concepts and methods. The problems that applied psychology solves are relevant for all scientific fields. The knowledge gained through research is used in specific areas - sports, space and many others. Special branches study individual issues that are of great importance for all science. Practical psychology is aimed at solving the psychological problems of specific clients; its specialists carry out preventive and corrective work.

Scheme of branches of psychology:

Theoretical psychology includes: general psychology, genetic, comparative, differential, history of psychology, mental modeling, psychophysiology, experimental.

Types of psychology

In addition to a large number of specialized areas, psychology is divided into two large components:

Academic
. This is a science whose key task is to understand the human psyche in order to achieve objective knowledge. Academic psychology studies human behavior and creates a theoretical scientific basis designed to explain all psychological phenomena and identify the relationships between them.
Applied
_ This section of psychology is aimed at obtaining practical results. It explores ways to influence a person's mental state in order to improve their life, increase their productivity and level of happiness. Applied psychology is used in their work by psychotherapists, psychiatrists, teachers, trainers and other specialists who help people develop, improve and solve problems.

To better understand how academic and applied psychology differ, let’s look at each section in more detail.

Levels of practical branches of psychology

Practical problems of science exist at different stages.

Research tasks. A detailed consideration of episodes of personality development for the further formation of the methodological foundations of work in the practice of a psychologist. Application of various knowledge, methods, and means for professional work in conditions of different nature.
Applied ones are identified according to the need for psychological supply of the best work of the organization (company, institution) of labor of the working force as a whole and separately, implying the preparation of programs for subsequent training. The basis of the educational material includes the creation of textbooks, manuals, recommendations from specialists, methods, training/retraining programs, the work of psychology services in practice, and design of documentation.
Practical tasks are based on specific problems based on the professional practice of a psychologist, work in multidisciplinary organizations, centers - as a means of providing specific assistance to individuals in the institution.

A number of main subjects:

Abnormal. Based on the study of abnormal human behavior and psychopathology. The main task is to study the range of mental disorders, for example, obsession, depression, and much more. Clinical psychologists, as well as psychotherapists, often have to deal with these types of deviations. Behavior. Behaviorism (behavioral psychology) is a theoretical training based on the idea that all types of behavior are formed by the technique of conditioning, that is, the acquisition of new qualities due to a stimulus.

Biopsychological branch. Studying the influence of the brain on human behavior. In other words, this branch is called physiological. Cognitive section

This type studies the purely internal human state, motivation, overcoming problems and resolving issues, human attention, thinking, and decision-making ability. This section has been constantly under development since its opening. Comparison area

Observation of changes in the actions of an animal, based on which one can study a person more seriously.

Cross culture. The influence of culture on a person. IACCP (International Association of Cross Culture) began in the last century, in 1972, and to this day the field is growing and continuing its work. Section of the study of human development. This section is devoted to the study of the peculiarities of human formation at the stage of the entire life period. The main thing is to understand the reasons why human behavior can change over time. This point, in principle, studies all types of industries related to the formation of a person’s personality. Pedagogy and psychology. The area determined in the process of education and training. This industry has already been discussed a little higher. Experimental. The use of scientific methods in the study of the brain or human behavior. Most methods also use other types of sections for a more extensive study of the issue.

Judicial. Briefly, this section studies everything that is combined in the legislation. Psychologists are entrusted with many cases related to the law and its violation, for example, establishing the abuse of minor children. Health. The influence of scientific branches, biology, systems of action, social circumstances of character - on the state of human health. In another way – “medical”. Personal industry. A study of thought processes (thinking) and emotions that make humans different from animals. Sociality. This section examines a person’s actions in the social sphere, interaction, leadership qualities, non-verbal communication, and how the environment can influence a person.

Why study psychology?

There is no clear answer to this question. Or rather, everyone has their own answer:

Because psychology affects all key aspects of life: everyday life, work, partnership, education, business, self-realization.
Because we live among people and want to understand their motives, take into account the peculiarities of their psyche, predict decisions, and navigate other people’s characters.
Because childhood grievances interfere with life, even if we don’t remember them.
To manage your inner resources, live life to the fullest.
To motivate yourself at the right time or notice fatigue in time and rest.
To understand why it hurts somewhere inside or why the “soul hurts.”
To understand why some people evoke sympathy, while others evoke aggression or rejection.
To recognize, but not succumb to other people's manipulations.
To develop your memory, thinking, creativity voluntarily, and not because “it’s customary.”
To understand why previous relationships fell apart, to build new, but stronger ones.
To learn to understand your children or parents, regardless of the age difference.
Just for myself.

Where to start studying?

First of all, one should not confuse academic psychologists and practicing psychologists. Most scientific books are written in a dry, rather difficult to understand language with scientific terms. Therefore, it will be difficult to learn psychology “for yourself” from the works of Freud or Jung. But there are also a lot of books on popular psychology that you won’t be able to study at the same time. Therefore, first you need to ask yourself a question: what motivates me, what is most important to me?

General outlook.

Paul Kleinman, Psychology: People, Concepts, Experiments.
D. Goleman “Emotional Intelligence.”
D. Halliman “Why We Make Wrong: Thinking Traps.”

Child psychology.

Yu. Gippenreiter “The most important book for parents.”
Archpriest Fyodor Borodin “Create love. How to raise a happy child."

Psychology of creativity.

Austin Kleon, Steal Like an Artist.
Barbara Sher "What to Dream About."

Psychology of success.

K. McGonikal “Willpower: develop and strengthen.”
Ray Dalio "Principles".
Chin-Ning Chu "Stone Face, Black Heart"

Branches of applied psychology

Applied psychology studies psychological problems characteristic of certain areas of life or professional activity of people. The branches of applied psychology include:

pedagogical psychology;

medical psychology;

psychology of art;

psychology of religion;

family psychology, etc.

Educational psychologyMedical psychologyLegal psychology

Economic psychology studies issues related to economic relations between people. Experts in economic psychology study problems of the market, supply and demand, and the psychology of advertising

An important place in economic psychology is occupied by trade psychology, which studies the psychological problems of interaction between seller and buyer, customer service

Psychology of workPolitical psychologyPsychology of sportsPsychology of art

Psychology of religion is a direction of research into psychological problems of religious consciousness, ideas and feelings of believers, as well as religious traditions, rituals, and cults.

Family psychology

Main directions of psychology

Throughout time, new directions in psychology and approaches to humans have been created.

Today, many of them are actively used and are selected for a specific person and individual situation.

Probably everyone knows that the theory of psychoanalysis was created by Freud .

The main points are that the main problems and causes of behavior are hidden in the unconscious .

And the main stage in the formation of individuality occurs in childhood. Libido and fear of death are factors that often move a person. This method is suitable for the treatment of neuroses and old psychological traumas.

Gestalt psychology claims that you need to perceive the picture holistically, and not split it into separate elements, as the direction described above does. That is, look not at a specific personality trait, but at the whole person and the living conditions around him.

There are concepts of open gestalt, when some situation has not ended acceptably. Therefore, during sessions they play it, discuss it and close it so as not to disturb the client.

Hypnosis is used to bring a person into an altered consciousness and become closer to the unconscious. During the session, they try to extract the causes of the problem, negative factors that the client does not want to share in a normal dialogue. Positive attitudes can also be instilled. For example, that everything is fine and the person calms down.

Client-centered psychology in its name indicates that the main role in the session is given to the client. That is, he can help himself, only to do this he needs to be carefully directed in the right direction.

Therefore, most of the attention is directed to establishing a trusting relationship between the psychotherapist and his interlocutor, so that he trusts and feels confident.

Art psychology tells how, with the help of creativity, a person can pour out his negative emotions and feelings, and thereby relieve himself of heaviness. Also, the psychotherapist can give tasks and interpret their implementation (text, drawing, modeling), together with the client, study the problem hidden inside him, and find a way out.

The cognitive-behavioral direction deals with the correction of the client’s erroneous thinking. A psychologist explains what a person is doing (or thinking) wrong. Gives examples, arguments, recalls various similar situations. It also shows how you can live by the new rules.

Theoretical psychology

Theoretical psychology includes: general psychology, history of psychology, experimental, genetic, social, comparative, differential psychology, psychophysiology, personality psychology, mental modeling.

General psychology

systematizes experimental data obtained in various fields of psychological science, develops fundamental theoretical problems of psychology, formulates basic principles, categories, concepts, patterns, and constitutes the foundation for the development of all branches and sections of scientific psychology.

History of psychology

examines the formation of psychological categories and concepts throughout the existence of scientific psychology, the history of psychological research at different times in different schools, and the prospects for the development of psychology as a science.

Experimental psychology

develops new methods of psychological research to study mental reality.

Genetic psychology

studies the patterns of development of the psyche of animals and humans in phylogenesis (during the biological evolution of all living things and the historical development of the psyche) and in ontogenesis (during the life of an individual person).

Social Psychology

explores mental phenomena in the process of interaction between people in large and small social groups, namely: the influence of mass media on various segments of the population, features of the formation and spread of rumors, tastes, public sentiment, fashion, issues of psychological compatibility, interpersonal relationships, group atmosphere, the role of the leader in the group, the perception of a person by a person, the position of an individual in a group, relationships between family members and the like.

Comparative psychologists

I am a branch of psychology that studies the phylogenetic forms of mental life.
In the field of comparative psychology, the psyche of animals and humans is compared, the specifics and reasons for the similarities and differences in their behavior are established. A branch of comparative psychology is animal psychology
, which studies the psyche of animals belonging to various systematic groups (species, breeds, families), the most important forms and mechanisms of behavior.
Cetaceans (dolphins) are now added to the classical objects of comparative psychology (spiders, ants, bees, birds, dogs, horses, monkeys). The innate mechanisms of animal behavior are the object of special study in a relatively new field of biology and psychology - ethology
.

Differential psychology

explores individual psychological characteristics of the psyche, taking into account the age level of development and mechanisms of functioning of the psyche, the role of the inclinations and abilities of the individual, and the like.

Psychophysiology

studies the physiological mechanisms of the activity of the brain and higher nervous system related to the functioning of the psyche.

Psychology of Personality

studies the mental properties of a person as a holistic entity, as a certain system of mental properties, which has an appropriate structure, internal relationships, which is characterized by individuality and which is interconnected with the surrounding natural and social environment.

Mental simulation

as a section of theoretical psychology uses scientific information about the psyche to form mathematical and cybernetic models of mental functions (perception, thinking, memory, recognition, communication, etc.) and the entire psyche as a whole for the purpose of developing and improving technical systems, testing existing psychological theories using computer modeling (computer experiment).

System of psychological sciences

To solve its problems, modern psychology widely uses the achievements of other sciences in the same way that the knowledge of psychology is used by these sciences.
A unique two-way system of sciences using psychological knowledge is being built. Plato created one of the first classifications of sciences, which provided a diagram of all scientific knowledge of that time. It was built in the image and likeness of the structure of psychology - the structure of human cognitive abilities:

Dialectics is the mind as the art of reasoning;
Physics – sensory cognition, perception;
Ethics is will and desire.

In the structure of Hegel’s classification, psychology occupies a place at the level of self-development of the spirit:

Subjective spirit in the form of individual consciousness;
Anthropology as a manifestation of a natural state of mind;
Phenomenology is seen as consciousness manifested in external action;
Psychology as a spiritual substance that thinks and embodies content.

In O. Comte's system, and this is already a classification of the 19th century, there was no place for psychology at all. At this time it occupied an intermediate position between the biological and social sciences. And only at the end of the 19th century it became part of the sciences.

Of course, the obvious truth underlay this decision - psychology was one of the aspects of any knowledge for the simple reason that:

Firstly, due to its objective content;
Secondly, due to its internal structure in accordance with the psychological aspects of the scientific analysis of ideas, concepts and theories of the processes of human cognitive activity.

Almost no science, be it mathematics, physics, logic, depends on psychology in its methods and theoretical structures. It is possible to master these structures through the direct influence of a person on objects and phenomena, and only psychology can study these influences and human activity in the development of knowledge.

Psychology occupies its proper place in the classification of sciences proposed by B. Kedrov. Its diagram is presented in the form of a triangle, the vertices of which are sciences:

Natural;
Social;
Philosophical.

The connections between them are subject to the following principles:

Subordination of development from the lowest level to the highest level;
The principle of objectivity, the arrangement of sciences should follow the same as the objects of their research;
Following the laws of development of science and knowledge developed by them.

Thus, it turns out that psychology is located inside the triangle and creates close connections with the three groups of sciences. Clarifying the position of psychology in the diagram, B. Kedrov emphasizes that psychology inside the triangle is not located symmetrically to the vertices, but closer to the philosophical sciences, because thinking, for example, is the subject of not only psychology, but also dialectics and logic.

By studying human behavior and psyche from the point of view of their biological organization and external social environment, psychology will work closely with the natural and social sciences.

The connection between psychology and medicine is inextricable, for the simple reason that many diseases have a psychological origin, and the results of psychological research can be of great help in their treatment. One should name such a scientific field as psychiatry, which relates to clinical medicine, revealing the causes and forms of mental disorders and the characteristics of the course of mental illnesses.

Social sciences provide psychology with a great opportunity; they help to correctly approach the understanding of the human psyche and consciousness from a theoretical point of view. Psychology focuses primarily on the philosophical doctrine of man.

The highest mental functions of a person in their formation were based on such historical achievements of civilization as tools and sign systems, therefore psychology is based on data from the history of society and its culture.

The very term “psychological science”, the subject of which is psychological phenomena, unites a system of knowledge. This is the theoretical aspect under which a given science considers the objects it studies.

Psychology is stimulated by practice, where it sets its own goals and objectives, formulated as problems and specified in research topics. In this regard, a number of special sciences and their branches appear. There is no justification for classifying psychology as only natural or only social sciences, so today it is already clear to everyone that psychology occupies an intermediate place between the natural and social sciences.

Human psychology - what is it?

Scientists have been studying psychology for several centuries and still have not decided what exactly they are studying.

From ancient Greek, “psychology” is translated as the study of the soul, but over the course of history, the focus of this science was aimed at a variety of objects: consciousness, experience, behavior, the unconscious, image perception, problems of existence, cognitive abilities, and so on.

If we take the simple route and start from the modern perception of the term, then psychology studies the psyche. And the psyche is the property of a subjective reflection of the objective world, which only highly organized living matter possesses. That is, a person with his brain, nerves, feelings. But, again, this is a narrow understanding of the word “psyche”.

One of the current interpretations of the subject that psychology studies is the inner world of man.

What interests psychology:

cognitive processes (thinking, speech, attention, memory, imagination, representation, sensation, etc.),
mental states (love, admiration, fear, anxiety, fatigue, hatred, sadness, determination, desires, drives, interests, etc.),
mental properties (temperament, character, abilities, etc.),
executive functions (attention control, suppression of automatic reactions, cognitive inhibition and flexibility, etc.).

Scientific and everyday psychology

There is another division by type: scientific psychology and everyday psychology.

Everyday life is distinguished by its specificity; it applies to special people and situations. It uses two methods: observation and reflection. A person receives all everyday knowledge intuitively and passes it on from generation to generation through works of art, proverbs and sayings. They are written in simple language, understandable to anyone without special education. A friend, neighbor, taxi driver or random fellow traveler can act as a psychologist.

Scientific generalizes existing knowledge using scientific concepts that apply to similar situations, identifies common properties, connections, and patterns of development. Its methods are observation, analysis, synthesis, projective techniques and experiment. Scientific knowledge is formed into laws.

In this form, all definitions are clearly formulated, compared with each other and transmitted through the scientific literature using specific terminology. Scientific psychology has a wealth of material that is accessible to a narrow circle and transmitted through special training.

Academic psychology

This is a fundamental science, the research of which is purely scientific in nature and is not initially aimed at obtaining practical results. When studying a certain mental process, the task is to study it and understand it, to find relationships with other processes.

Academic psychology is characterized by:

explores and explains mental processes, looks for patterns;
does not look for or study ways to influence these processes;
creates a theoretical basis for further research within applied psychology.

Despite these features, academic psychology does engage in some applied research if it is of theoretical interest. Thanks to this, ways of influencing mental processes can be discovered, which will later find practical application in other areas.

What books on psychology do we recommend reading?

It all depends on what your tasks are. If you are interested in general psychology, then it is best, of course, to turn to academic publications recognized by universities. This:

“General Psychology” by Maklakov,
"Fundamentals of General Psychology" by Rubinstein,
“13 dialogues about psychology” by Sokolova,
"Introduction to General Psychology" Gippenreiter,
“Clinical Psychology” by Kholmogorova, 4 volumes.

But if you need help in certain areas, these should be special books.

The question is how to communicate with a child? We recommend books by the same Yulia Borisovna Gippenreiter - she teaches you to actively listen, communicate so that there are no conflicts, results are achieved, and most importantly, so that the child is happy and develops as a person.

Interested in social impact? Do you work in marketing and sales? You should like Robert Cialdini's cult book “The Psychology of Influence.”

There are many memory training books: Gareth Moore, Jonathan Hancock, Ryuta Kawashima, Andrei Safronov, Mikhail Litvak and the like.

We are not even trying to cover this entire huge layer of books on popular psychology - there are millions of them. We just outline the starting points - then we will continue on our own.

Methods of psychological influence

For example, many are interested in what methods are used to exert psychological influence on people. Have you been interested in this question? It is useful to know this in order not to succumb to manipulation by other people and to apply these methods in communication yourself (of course, with good intentions).

So, the main methods of psychological influence are as follows:

Infection
This is the transfer of an emotional state from one person to another. The “target” person is usually infected unconsciously: the emotional state is read subconsciously. This applies to various strong feelings: euphoria, delight, panic, anger, fear.
Infection is the oldest method of psychological influence. Many religious rituals and various public events (demonstrations, strikes, rallies, performances) are based on it.
Suggestion
This is persuasion of a person using words against an emotional background. Suggestion will be powerful if you speak confidently, reinforcing the meaning of the words with an appropriate tone, emotional facial expressions and gestures. The most suggestible are people who are unsure of themselves and those who do not perceive information critically (that is, questioning it and looking for arguments).
The most popular method: the manipulator presents the desired behavior of the “target” person as real, and evaluates it positively. For example, the head of the city may say: “I thank the residents for observing the mask regime,” although, in fact, the citizens did not even think about wearing masks. By replacing an expected fact with an allegedly accomplished one, the speaker tries to induce people to a certain behavior.
Or another example: in a conversation with an absent-minded colleague, some kind of “I love doing business with you because you pay attention to my words” may work.
It is also effective to combine the suggested information with facts that the person himself has experienced, which are familiar to him and will cause a response.
Persuasion
This is the delivery of information by constructing a logical chain. The most harmless way, without manipulation, falsehood and emotions.
Imitation
Reproduction by a person of a pattern of behavior: manner of speaking, gait, gestures, facial expressions, clothing, and so on. Usually happens on a subconscious level.

Study of psychology: forms of training

When choosing a learning method, you need to decide for what purposes you need it. For example, studying at higher educational institutions is suitable for those who plan to practice in the future in their specialty. School and child psychology, social psychology - such areas require training in government institutions in the relevant specialty. This implies a full-fledged education

, practical training and, accordingly, classes with professional teachers. Such education is based on the approved state-standard system.

If the goal of studying psychology is personal motives, you want to understand others, as well as improve your own intellectual level and simply for self-development, then independent study will be quite enough.

Study in higher educational institutions or independent studies