In order to understand what exactly are the tasks of the psychological service, you need to understand what they are. This term is understood in different ways. Some believe that we are talking about peculiar riddles that should be solved like mathematical exercises aimed at the development of logic. Others understand psychological tasks as the goals that scientists face. Still others believe that we are talking about problems that arise in the head of people related to both emotions and thinking, motivation and other aspects.
What is meant by the main task in psychology?
Scientific psychological tasks are what is studied and practiced. That is, the concepts of “task” and “goal” are not similar, although they are, of course, interdependent. In science, there are a number of areas that are included in this concept. It itself is generalizing, giving a general definition of activity.
Of course, the study of various patterns inherent in human thinking, expressed both in objective processes and inverse to them, is the main, main task of psychological science.
In other words, the main task of science is to cognize the processes occurring in the human brain, due to which consciousness forms subjective reflections or the perception of reality surrounding the individual. That is, the main thing that is studied by this science is the essence and course of mental manifestations.
What do these tasks include?
Psychological tasks include the study of several areas related to the manifestations of human consciousness. The highest priority among them are:
- structural processes occurring in the brain;
- subjective perception and options for its formation;
- the formation of mental activity and its development;
- dependence on objective realities, living conditions and education;
- the influence of physiological processes on thinking.
Thus, the concept of “psychological tasks” includes the study of all aspects of the processes of perception and thinking of a person, including the impact on them of the surrounding objective world, health status and other factors.
What are the goals of psychology?
Scientific goals, of course, are interconnected with tasks. The difference is that goals imply not only the study of any aspect of thinking, the mental process, perception, but also the practical use of existing knowledge.
In other words, the goals and objectives of psychological scientific activity in a joint review are to understand the processes taking place in the brain and use the knowledge gained to influence them.
Simply put, the main goal of psychology is to solve emerging problems in practice, which is expressed in the correction of processes occurring in the human brain related to both thinking and perception.
What is meant by the term "diagnosis"?
Diagnostics in psychology is a separate direction. Often this area of science is called "psychodiagnostics", this is done in order to immediately become clear what it is about.
This section of psychology is extremely important for the practical activities of specialists. In the framework of this direction, specific methods are indicated or formed, with the help of which it becomes possible to characterize the state of mind of a person, to identify the presence of any deviations in his psyche and, accordingly, diagnose them.
In addition to developing the methods necessary for practical activities, the tasks of psychological diagnostics include determining the framework in which individual characteristics of the processes of thinking and perception of the surrounding reality can be found. In other words, this industry is engaged in the search or the determination of the line that separates genius from craziness, individuality from rejection.
How are methods classified in psychodiagnostics?
All diagnostic techniques that make it possible to solve psychological problems are divided into two large types:
The first include both theoretical and practical work of scientists. The second ones include such methods of collecting and systematizing information as:
- testing;
- observation;
- polls or interviews;
- fixing various reactions and relationships.
Observation, like other techniques involved in psychodiagnostics, can be direct or indirect. Observation is the main way to collect information, determine the manifestations and characteristics of a process, identify its laws.
What are the methods used in psychological diagnosis?
The importance of the methods used in psychodiagnostics cannot be underestimated, since all other areas of this science are based on their use.
A number of techniques are used to solve each individual psychological problem. Psychology is characterized by the division of applied diagnostic and research methods into the following groups:
- objective;
- experimental;
- polling.
Interview methodologies are mainly used to collect information and compile statistics. That is, these data can serve as the basis, the basis for the work of a specialist with a specific task. The foundation from which you can build on to find a solution in each individual case.
These methods include the psychologist’s conversations with the patient, testing, questionnaires and other studies, implying the existence of a “question-answer” relationship.
Objective methods are understood to mean anything that does not allow for ambiguity in understanding. That is, undeniable phenomena, processes, consequences, or patterns. For objective diagnostic methods, observation is mainly involved, but various physiological examinations are used, in cases where specialists consider them necessary.
Experimental methods are not only those methods that are not widespread enough and are not indisputable, but also combining several different options for diagnostic psychological research.
What is meant by solving a psychological problem?
This term is understood in a general sense literally. That is, the solution to a psychological problem is nothing more than the achievement of a specific, concrete result, necessary in isolated circumstances or cases. That is, if we are talking about scientific research or observations, then the conclusions made by experts will be the solution.
If the tasks of the psychological service of assistance to the population are considered, then the measures taken in each specific situation appear in the form of a solution. If we talk about therapeutic services, then, of course, the result is the deliverance of a person from his problems.
That is, the solution is the achievement of the result necessary in a certain area. For example, in psychodiagnostics this may be the earliest possible detection of the presence of any problems present in the processes of perception and thinking. And in practical psychology, respectively, their elimination.
What paths are used?
The solution to a problem in psychology can be achieved in two main ways - sub- and objective. Each of them has its own specific differences and is appropriate in certain circumstances.
The objective path combines methods in which the results, like the observed processes, conclusions, in no way depend on the attitude, views, actions or other aspects of the individual. This applies both to the object of observation and to the specialists who carry it out.
The subjective way of designating the problem and the options for finding its solution combines those methods that use data obtained in a way that does not exclude the determining influence of desire, mood, and other similar factors. That is, this path includes methods based on subjective data. An example of this can be any questionnaire or test. Answers to questions in them depend on a large number of individual variables, such as a momentary mood, the presence of migraine, irritation or a feeling of happiness and other similar emotions.
Solution outline and example
Any psychological problem can be represented as a series of interconnected processes. The tasks of psychological work in practice are to identify the sequence, get to the root cause and eliminate it, or find another way to solve the problem.
It is possible to imagine a situation that is a task of psychology that needs to be solved using a simple example:
- a person is busy writing a thesis;
- he is constantly distracted, finds a lot of intermediate activities - to make coffee, watch the news, stretch his back and so on;
- time passes - the text is not written.
This situation is nothing more than a psychological problem or a problem that needs to be solved.
It must be solved by starting with the search for the root cause, which in this case is inside the human mind. You must understand why there is a desire to be distracted. As a rule, this happens due to a lack of interest in the topic and laziness. A solution in this case may be the following:
- elimination of all "temptations";
- activation of volitional impulse.
Of course, this example is the most primitive, but it is quite relevant in ordinary life and accurately reflects the essence of what can be considered a psychological problem or task.
What is a psychological study?
Psychological research is called a scientific cognitive and simultaneously production process. In other words, psychological research is the path that each specialist follows in moving toward his intended goal.
That is, it is a process of moving towards what you need to know by solving current problems or exploring and overcoming problems.
What are these studies?
Psychological research is classified in accordance with the tasks, problems and goals that specialists face.
The following types are distinguished:
- search engine;
- structural;
- experimental.
Exploratory research is usually conducted during the initial stages of work. This is a kind of intelligence, actions whose purpose is to obtain the maximum amount of information, data on the existing problem or on the subject of study. The objectives of this type of research are to determine the presentation of further paths and techniques necessary in a particular case.
The structural type of research is aimed at maximally narrowing the range of issues studied, that is, at highlighting priority points.
Research conducted by the experimental type involves immersion in the subject of study. Its purpose is to thoroughly identify all the characteristic relationships of ongoing processes. Also included in this concept is the definition of cause-effect chains and the triggering actions, mechanisms, phenomena.
What are the tasks of psychological research?
Each type of research has its own tasks. In other words, the actions of scientists are aimed at achieving certain goals, which determines the list of tasks and problems that need to be addressed.
It is impossible to list all the tasks of psychological research in one area or another, since they are not immutable values. Nevertheless, there are several areas within which most of them are located.
Usually the tasks of psychological support or justification of any processes arising in the course of research are aimed at achieving such goals:
- acquisition of reliable information, data collection;
- presentation of the set of characteristics of the subject of study;
- comparing the object of work with existing statistical samples or examples;
- designation of the dynamics of growth or decline of psychological processes;
- identification of cause and effect chains.
Of course, the final task of all types of research is the correction of violations in psychological processes, and not just their study.