72 MODERN CONDITION AND DEVELOPMENT OF FOREIGN PSYCHOLOGY

The development of modern foreign psychology (especially considering the previous temporary stages of development) began about the second half of the twentieth century. This period is considered to be a crisis, as there were many directions that refuted or were based on criticism of each other’s main theses. Many of the trends of psychology that have arisen before, were put aside. But it was this that contributed to the fact that there were new, more perfect. The greatest popularity was received by works in the field of research of intelligence.

One of the brightest directions of this stage can be called psychogenetics, which began its existence in 1865 thanks to the research of F. Galton. Currently, this science is in its fourth stage of development.

As a rule, psychogenetics is considered an interdisciplinary field of knowledge, which determines the role and interaction of heredity and environmental factors in the formation of individual psychological and psycho-physiological differences.

The earliest research in this field was devoted to the study of inherited traits, such as talent and ability. Hence the problem of psychogenetics was formulated: to clarify the factor influencing the formation of a specific trait in an individual.

As science developed, research methods were developed: the genealogical, the twin method and the foster children method. Almost 80% of the work of psychogenetics is devoted to the study of the inheritance of intelligence, for which the method of adoptive children is most often used (a vivid example is the famous 15-year-old project of Texas researchers). Also, this science explores temperament, and it was found that in older age twins have the greatest similarity in temperament.

Not less interest is the teaching of J. Piaget on the development of intelligence. The basis of his teachings J. Piaget put an explanation of the perception and thinking of the child.

Piaget did not use other people's methods, he created a method of clinical conversation, based on the receipt of certain answers to the questions asked to children, which reveal individual differences between children.

J. Piaget singled out the stages of development of the intellect, the conformity of which determines the normal development of the personality. Each of these stages must take place within a specific, specific age. J.Piaget considered egocentrism to be an indispensable in the development of a child — the intellectual position of the child through which the latter must pass. But again, all of the above could change depending on the environment in which the child is raised, whether his achievements in the field of knowledge are encouraged. Only with the harmonious interaction of the child and the environment, according to Piaget, does the normal development of the intellect occur.