OUTLINES OF THE INTRODUCTION PSYCHOLOGY LECTURE FOR PARTICIPANTS OF THE PSYCHOLOGY TRAINING PROGRAMS AND STUDENTS OF THE PROGRAM OF MOSCOW GESTALT INSTITUTE

This article deals with a holistic presentation of psychology for students of psychology retraining programs. The particular attention is paid to the consideration of the specific features of psychology as a science, its multi-paradigm character. The examples of comparison with the classical scientific disciplines – physics, chemistry, biology – reveal the peculiarities of the knowledge formation in psychology. A chart of three levels of generalization in science is also used for statement and explanation the issue of the multiplicity of psychotherapy types, schools and techniques. In conclusion, the article briefly describes the current state of the Russian psychology, the specifics of its formation, current crises and challenges of the time.