Preface

The first issue of journal “Vestnik of St. Petersburg State University. Psychology” is traditionally dedicated to the theme of the annual conference “Ananyev’s Readings” last fall, which was held under the title “Man in the Modern World: Potentials and Prospects for Development” and was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Department of Devel-opmental Psychology and Differential Psychology of St. Petersburg University. The history of this direction began much earlier: it was developmental psychology and differential psychology that formed the core of the themes of the psychological scientific school of Leningrad University, based by its founder B. G. Ananyev. And today the Department of Developmental Psychology and Differential Psychology continues the traditions of his research, implementing his ideas in modern conditions. We sincerely congratulate our colleagues on the anniversary of the department, and wish them further success, prosperity and well-being! The issue opens with an article by Professor L. A. Golovey, who has headed the department for more than 20 years since its founding. Her article is devoted to the formation of developmental psychology and differential psychology and introduces the main stages in the history of the study of these problems at Leningrad — St. Petersburg University to readers. Methodological principles and directions of research were traced by the works of B. G. Ananyev, who proceeded from the need to study a person in the unity of all his properties as an individual, the personality of the subject of activity and individuality. His works take on a new meaning in modern psychology; the ideas of integrity and continuity of human development form the basis of modern personality psychology. Article by Golovey, who was student of B. G. Ananyev, allows you to get acquainted with the history of the school of developmental psychology and differential psychology, part of which consists of the works by Larisa Golovey herself, her students and new generations of scientists who preserve and develop the traditions of the scientific school of B. G. Ananyev.