ВІКОВА ПСИХОЛОГІЯ: ВИНИКНЕННЯ ТА РОЗВИТОК

Abstract

The question of age psychology was raised in ancient times. The origins of knowledge belonging to Greek philosophers were based on the age psychology of the early stages of human development (childhood and adolescence). Ancient thinkers sought to substantiate ideas important for age psychology about the content of mental development, differences of mental qualities, factors of mental development, stages of development of mental functions.

Undoubtedly, the basis of the development of age psychology has become a large number of concepts of the essence of personality. In particular, Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis, John Watson's behaviorism, Jean Piaget's cognitive theory, Abraham Maslow's humanistic approach, and others. Subsequently, the concept of psychology of adults and the elderly began to emerge. And this is an important step in scientific development, because earlier - age-old psychology was based only on the psychology of children, adolescents and young men.

Particularly dynamic development of age psychology was acquired in the second half of the XX - early XXI century. It was a way to humanize social life. The development of child psychology intensified, which was determined by the requirements of pedagogical theory and practice. Valuable ideas of age psychology were formed as a result of studies  of general psychological and pedagogical phenomena. New concepts of the analysis of  age development were revealed in the field of classical directions of psychology. There are also some trends that cover the personality in different ways.

According to scientists, age-related psychology has links with other sciences: pedagogy, which nourishes the theoretical basis in order to properly organize the education and upbringing of children and young people; with human anatomy and physiology (issues of the physiological basis of mental development); and philosophy is  the methodological basis for developing questions about the formation of personality, its vision of society.

Age psychology is popularized in Ukraine. The phenomena of age-related personality development are investigated in institutions, considered at  conferences, covered in the writings of scientists. Particular attention is focused on studies of developmental features in children.

According to scientists, now the development of age psychology is determined, in particular: by expanding the chronology of the study of mental development; creation of integrated concepts; combination of scientific aspects in different fields of knowledge; improvement of research methods and methods.

Therefore, modern age psychology relies on the results of the acquisitions that have been acquired over the centuries and continues to accumulate knowledge revealed as a result of changes occurring in real life at all stages of life.