Political psychology

Political psychology was almost immediately recognized as a promising area of ​​research in world political science. And in Russian literature, despite ideological taboos, the first developments appeared during the years of the Khrushchev “thaw” (second half of the 50s), although its official recognition as an integral part of political science took place only in the 90s. - years of perestroika.

Political science showed its utmost interest primarily in the development of such problems that are related to the subjective side of the political process and are directly related to the field of political psychology: the values ​​of political cultures, the mood and expectations of voters, the psychological characteristics of political leadership and elites, especially the national character of different peoples and ethnic groups, the causes of the emergence and resolution of political conflicts, the formation of the image of political figures, etc. ^[1]

Fundamental and systematic theoretical developments in the field of the psychology of politics began in the 60s. in the US under the influence of the “behavioral movement”. Then, to study the problems of international politics at the American Psychiatric Association, a group was created, transformed in 1970 into the Institute of Psychiatry and Foreign Policy. In 1968, the Research Committee in Political Psychology was founded at the American Association of Political Science, on the basis of which the International Society of Political Psychologists was organized in 1979, which has already received international status ( International Society of Political Psychology, ISPP ). This Society publishes its journal Political Psychology. Currently, publications on political and psychological issues appear in all prestigious publications on political science and psychology. ISPP now has more than 1,000 members from almost all continents; annual meetings are held to discuss the most pressing theoretical problems, such as, for example, “Psychological aspects of the policy of change”, “National construction and democracy in multicultural societies”. In 1999, the annual meeting convened in Amsterdam was dedicated to the theme “Global or local century?” Conflict, Communication, Citizenship ”, and in 2001 the annual meeting held in Cuernavaca (Mexico), on the theme“ Language of Politics, Language of Citizenship, Language of Culture ”. In 2002, the theme of the annual meeting was “Language and Politics”. Although political psychology has truly gained international recognition, most researchers still live and work in the United States or Canada. We will name only a few large scientists, such as M. Hermann, R. Siegel, D. Sire, S. Renshon, F. Greenstein, A. George, R. Tucker, J. Post, B. Glad, R. Christie, S McFarland, C. Monroe and others.

Now in Russia, dozens of researchers conduct both basic and applied research, are engaged in both analytical and advisory work. These specialists are especially in demand during the election period, during which they are able to calculate the situation not by eye, but using special scientific tools. Special scientific units in the field of political psychology were created in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Department of Political Psychology at the Psychological Department of St. Petersburg University in 1999 celebrated its tenth anniversary. In 2000, at Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov at the Department of Political Science opened the Department of Political Psychology. Lecture courses are given at many domestic universities. The first textbooks on political psychology were published *. In 1993, the Russian Association of Political Psychologists was created, which is a collective member of ISPP. The subject of “political psychology” is currently included in the state standard for the training of political scientists. In this specialty, the Higher Attestation Commission awarded academic degrees in two sciences: psychology and political science. Thus, we can say that this discipline has received institutional recognition and is gradually completing the initial stage of its formation.

• Crowd psychology
• Institute of Social and Political Psychology NAPN of Ukraine

• Shestopal Ye. B. Political psychology: Textbook. for universities .. - M .: INFRA-M, 2002. - 446 p. - ISBN 5-16-000981-7 .