General psychology is ... Fundamentals and subject of general psychology. General and social psychology

General psychology is a science that is interesting both for a psychologist, and for a lawyer, a sociologist. Representatives of a number of other professions also face it. She studies the laws of the development of human consciousness, the formation of internal processes, mental states, personality properties and so on. Moreover, as in any other science, the foundations of general psychology include not only theoretical basic knowledge, but also numerous studies of scientific figures. The existence of this branch is impossible without the study of methods, functions, and also the basic terminological apparatus.

Subject of science

General and social psychology necessarily have their own subject. So, the main attention is directed to the following factors:

• Mental activity;
• memory;
• Character;
• thinking;
• temperament;
• Emotions;
• perception;
• Sensations and so on.

These phenomena are considered in close relationship not only with human life, but also with the activities of the entire surrounding world. When studying this issue, great attention must be paid to the belonging of a person to a particular ethnic group, to take into account the historical prerequisites for its formation. Numerous cognitive processes that occur within a person are also subject to study. A special area of psychology is interpersonal relationships in social groups of various numbers.

Training course

General psychology is a general theoretical science. It is closely intertwined with pedagogy, sociology, art criticism, philosophy, linguistics and so on. Introduction to general psychology begins with numerous studies. Thanks to them, this science does not stand still and brings a significant benefit to society.

A complete theoretical course includes general psychology. Topics are divided into certain sections: introduction, general concepts, historical perspectives, methods, principles, system, special part, foreign experience and so on. A special role in psychology is played by practice, which shows the results of pedagogical and practical-psychological work.

Methods of General Psychology

In this science there are a huge number of methods. Each of them is widely used in practical activities. General psychology is the peak of all psychological branches. The main difference from other areas is that specific methods are used here. For example, the following are used as the basis:

• Observation.
• Experiment.
• Conversation.
• Questioning and so on.

About each further we will talk in more detail.

General characteristic of the observation method

Particularly in detail about the methods of research tells the author of many textbooks by the name of Maklakov. General psychology includes such a method as observation, which is rightfully considered the oldest method of cognition. The simplest and most famous form of it is everyday life and everyday observation. Even if you pay attention, you will notice that you use this psychological method every day. The following types of surveillance are distinguished:

1. Short-term and long-term, which can occur for several years.
2. Selective.
3. Solid and special. In the latter case, the observer himself is immersed in the investigated atmosphere.

Each observation consists of several stages:

1. Mandatory setting of a specific goal and a number of tasks that help achieve the expected results.

2. Identification of a specific subject, object of investigation, situation.

3. Definition of a number of methods that have minimal impact on the object under study.

4. Determination of the form of fastening and data processing.

It is believed that external observation is more objective, since the consolidation of results is carried out by an extraneous person. This method is also subdivided into direct and indirect. Separately stands out this kind of self-observation. This method is effective only in interaction with experiment and conversation.

Conversation as one of the most important scientific methods

General psychology is a multifaceted science. That is why one method has a huge number of different applications in practice.

The most important in psychology is the conversation. It is the direct or indirect collection of information about the person being interviewed. The received information can be recorded both in writing and orally. Due to the subsequent processing of the information obtained, conclusions are drawn through careful analysis.

Conversations are also subdivided depending on the nature of the conversation. So, they highlight the collection of information about a person, interviewing, when a person responds to a pre-prepared list of questions, a survey and a questionnaire. All of the above types have distinctive features, for example, during questioning, the interlocutor responds in writing.

As practice shows, the most effective method of data collection is a personal interview between the researcher and the researcher. An atmosphere of trust is created, thanks to which the interlocutors feel comfortable and at ease. In order to collect the maximum amount of information, the interviewer must be carefully prepared. First, draw up a plan for the conversation and identify all the problems, the solution of which is important to find.

The conversation involves not only giving answers in a certain form, but also questions from the subject. As practice shows, the most complete information can be obtained as a result of a two-way conversation.

Experiment as a psychological method

About this method of research tells in detail Maklakov, "General Psychology" - one of the most deserving of his creations, which detailes all the issues and nuances of the conduct.

The experiment is called active intervention in the life and activity of the person being examined. And it can be done both by the experimenter himself and by a person who has agreed with him in advance. In the process of the method used, certain conditions are created. As the result of the experiment, a certain behavior or actions of the subject in the created situation.

This method is also divided into several types. The most popular is a laboratory experiment. It takes place in special, specially created conditions. A mandatory condition is the use of specific equipment. All actions are controlled by a predetermined schedule. A distinctive feature of this species is that the subject realizes that an experiment is under way at the moment. Of course, he does not know for what purpose conditions are created, but this fact can correct his behavior. And this already has a noticeable effect on the reliability of the data obtained.

Some experiments can be carried out one time, others - repeatedly. In addition, some are designed to produce results by analyzing the behavior of a particular person, others are groups of people.

Tests

Much tells about the tests of general psychology. The textbook of any author contains information about this kind of methods. Tests are a certain test that allows you to establish a particular set of qualities and properties of a character in a particular person. They are short-term and the same for all tasks. Tests can be collected both when the subject is ready and after a certain period of time. In addition, according to the results of the study, a conclusion is drawn about the presence of certain personal qualities and properties, the level of development of the individual.

Tests are used by psychologists in order to establish a forecast for the future, to predict the behavior of the individual. In addition, through the conduct of such work, staff of institutions are diagnosed. All tests should be properly designed, and also reflect the essence of the results. Each question should pursue a specific goal (for example, learn the level of personality development in the curriculum or create a criminal criminal portrait of the offender, etc.) and have a scientific justification. Reliability and accuracy are one more qualities that are mandatory for conducting tests.

Specificity of the genetic method

The subject of general psychology is inextricably linked with the genetic method and the genetic principle. Its essence lies in the need to research a particular person with the goal to determine the general scientific patterns. Reflection of this method can be traced both during observation and during the experiment.

The object of general psychology

An object is a necessary condition for the existence of each science. It is important to distinguish it from the subject, because this is a certain branch, a scientific aspect, which is to some extent affected by the researcher. As for the subject, it represents more specific areas of activity that are covered in science.

The object of general psychology is the psyche of the whole mankind as a whole, and of a particular individual, the individual. This concept is considered as one of the forms of interaction of beings with the surrounding world. After all, it is the psyche that gives the ability to translate into reality your thoughts, behavior, decisions, motivations, and so on. Moreover, any information that is perceived by a person is the basis of its functioning. Psychic allows you to get an idea of the mental and physical, about the inner and outer, as detailed in general psychology. The textbook on this discipline also gives the concept of the subject of science, which was described earlier.

Types of the subject

The scale of the subject of the science under consideration gives grounds for dividing it into several types:

• Processes, that is, those phenomena that result in thoughts, feelings, and so on.
• States - a certain form of perception of the world: cheerfulness, depression and so on.
• Properties are certain qualities of a person that make him individual in the psychological sense (diligence, purposefulness, and so on).
• Neoplasms are skills, skills, knowledge that a person acquires as a result of training, experience, and so on.

Each of the above subject spheres can not be considered separately, since all issues are interrelated.

Social Psychology

To date, the most popular and relevant branch of general psychology is social psychology. This science studies the characteristics of human behavior and the activities of a particular person in society. The origins of science were laid in the second half of the 19th century.

This discipline is a fusion of psychology and sociology. Before she began a separate existence, over the years, data was collected about a person, his psychology and society. The initial sources are laid in philosophy, anthropology, linguistics, ethnography and so on. Hegel, Feuerbach and other scholars are the most prominent figures in the world of social psychology.