MODERN PSYCHOLOGY AND ITS PLACE IN SCIENCE

Ibragimov Muhammadrasul Abdumoʻminovich

Lecturer, Department of Psychology, National University of Uzbekistan

Oʻrozboyeva Mohina Nuraliyevna

2nd-year student, Applied Psychology, National University of Uzbekistan

       Psychology is a complex field that has been studying the human personality, consciousness, and mental processes since ancient times. Today, this field has secured its place among the developed sciences.

       Modern psychology is perceived differently by people, and it faces several important tasks. One of the most significant tasks of modern psychology is related to strengthening our independence. In addition, psychology as a science has both theoretical and practical responsibilities.

        Its theoretical tasks include:

– Studying the origins and characteristics of psychological phenomena;

– Scientifically explaining their mechanisms and patterns;

– Interpreting mental processes along with physiological processes;

–  Investigating the factors that cause psychological phenomena to appear in life, practice, and various activities.

          Its practical tasks involve delivering psychological knowledge to the wider public. This requires working with the community, dealing with children with behavioral difficulties, helping those influenced by harmful ideologies, and supporting children lagging in psychological development.

         By the 20th century, psychology had reached the peak of development and achieved numerous successes, as proven by V. Wundt’s experiments. In 1879, German scientist V. Wundt founded the world’s first experimental psychology laboratory at the University of Leipzig. The hundreds of experiments conducted there proved that psychology had the right to exist as an independent science. Wundt’s influence was so great that in another part of the world—the United States—a new school of thought called functionalism emerged. Founded by E. Titchener, its representatives argued that human behavior could be evaluated not only through invisible mental elements but also through observable signs and activity results. Another major American psychologist, W. James, conducted studies of great practical significance, redefining psychology as the science that studies mental activity rather than mental elements.

         The 20th century was characterized by science taking on concrete tasks, and psychology had to substantiate psychological laws through research. Today, modern psychology continues to develop and diversify without losing its relevance.

          In recent years, new branches of psychology have emerged, such as anthropological psychology, developmental psychology, growth psychology, the psychology of living beings, forensic psychology, psychological literary studies, bioconstitutional psychology, esoteric psychology, psychology of abilities, higher education psychology, psychology of religion, and others.

           Modern psychology now has more than 300 branches, each with its own object of study. To make them easier to research, they are classified into specific groups. Professor A. V. Petrovskiy proposed the following classification:

– Psychology branches studying specific types of activity;

– Psychology branches studying developmental age characteristics;

– Psychology branches studying the relationship between the individual and society.

             Importantly, by the 20th century, applied branches of psychology had emerged, and their achievements began to be actively implemented in education, upbringing, art, business, marketing, management, and crime prevention. From this perspective, no topic or process is irrelevant to psychology in today’s era of globalization and market relations.

       Psychology is so broad in scope that its achievements are being used to realize human potential, stimulate activity, and increase productivity. Modern psychology employs electronic computing technology, as well as electrical and chemical tools, to study the psyche in depth.

       In Uzbekistan, psychology began to be taught as a science at the present-day National University of Uzbekistan in 1928. In 1929, a psychology laboratory was established under the People’s Commissariat of Education. Later, various branches of psychology began to be taught in pedagogical institutes. Today, psychological services have been introduced in Uzbekistan, and their network is expanding.

Reference

1. M. E. Zufarova, General Psychology, 2010.

2. U. Fayziyeva, N. Jumayev, General Psychology, 2021.

Orozboyeva Mohina Nuraliyevna

Student at the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek in Tashkent.

Winner of the 2024 Profession Volunteer Competition

Winner of the 2025 International Scientific and Practical Conference among the CIS countries and recipient of the “Honor of the Homeland” medal.

Member and volunteer of the Tashkent city “Kizlar Ovozi” club.