November 22 — Psychologist's Day in Russia: history, traditions, congratulations

Every year on November 22, Russia celebrates Psychologist's Day, a professional holiday for specialists who study human behavior and psyche, as well as help society cope with modern challenges. In 2025, it falls on a Saturday. Read about the history, meaning and traditions of this date in the Izvestia article.

Psychologist's Day – 2025: the history of the holiday

In Russia, Psychologist's Day received official status quite recently – on October 10, 2023, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree of the Government of the Russian Federation on the inclusion of a professional holiday in the list of memorable dates of the country.

The initiative belonged to the professional community and received support at the level of the presidential administration. The date chosen was November 22— the day when the first congress of the Russian Psychological Society was held in 1994, which played a key role in the formation of the Russian psychological school.

Psychology as a science has come a long way from philosophical reflections to high-tech methods of studying human behavior. Its formation took place in parallel in different countries.

Initially, psychology existed in the bosom of philosophy and was interpreted as the doctrine of the soul. Questions about the nature of consciousness were raised by such ancient Greek thinkers as Socrates and Plato. Later, Aristotle for the first time systematized the idea of the psyche as the ability to feel, think and desire.

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In 1590, the German scientist Rudolf Goklenius first used the term "psychology" (from the Greek words psyche — "soul" and logos — "word"). But it was only in the Age of Enlightenment, starting with the works of Rene Descartes, that it began to be singled out in an independent direction. Descartes proposed the concept of dualism of soul and body, and focused on consciousness as an object of study.

The turning point was in 1879, when the German scientist Wilhelm Wundt founded the first laboratory of experimental psychology in Leipzig. It was then that psychology finally separated from philosophy and began to use scientific methods.

In the first half of the 20th century, new areas of psychology appeared: the psychoanalysis of Sigmund Freud, the behaviorism of John Watson, and the Gestalt psychology of Max Wertheimer. Each approach offered its own understanding of mental processes. Since the middle of the 20th century, a new stage has begun — the "humanistic" and "cognitive" revolutions. Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers put forward the idea of self-actualization and the inner potential of personality. Cognitive psychology, in turn, has brought back interest in thinking, memory, and attention, considering the psyche as an information processing system.

In Russia, the formation of this science went its own way, although it was inextricably linked with global trends. In the 1860s, Ivan Sechenov justified the need to separate psychology into an independent discipline. Already in 1885, Vladimir Bekhterev opened the first psychophysiological laboratory in Kazan. At the same time, a Psychological Society appeared at Moscow University. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Bekhterev founded the Psychoneurological Institute in St. Petersburg, the first institution in the world to combine science, medicine and education in the framework of a comprehensive study of man.

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In the 1920s and 1930s, Soviet psychology developed under the conditions of Marxist ideology. Lev Vygotsky, Alexander Luria and Alexey Leontiev laid the foundations of the cultural and historical approach, according to which higher mental functions are formed in the process of communication and assimilation of cultural experience.

The period of the 1960s and 1980s was the time of the institutionalization of psychology in the USSR. Psychology faculties were opened, scientific journals were published, and academic schools were formed. In 1971, the Institute of Psychology of the USSR Academy of Sciences was established, which became a key scientific center.

Today, psychology is not just a scientific discipline, but also an actively developing applied field in demand in education, healthcare, business, IT and the social sphere. Online platforms, neuropsychological methods, and new forms of therapy make the profession especially relevant in modern society.

Traditions of celebrating Psychologist's Day in Russia

On November 22nd, the Day of the Psychologist, many specialized companies and institutions hold solemn meetings, and the best specialists are awarded diplomas and commendations.

The professional community organizes conferences, seminars, lectures, and round tables where experts in the field of psychology discuss achievements, share experiences, and analyze current challenges.

Educational institutions conduct trainings, thematic lessons and master classes aimed at developing emotional intelligence and improving psychological literacy of the population.

Congratulations on the Day of the psychologist

On Psychologist's Day, it is customary to express gratitude to those who help people cope with internal difficulties, find support and restore mental balance. Psychologists work in a wide variety of fields, from medicine and education to business and social work. Their mission is to help people understand themselves, overcome crises, and restore motivation and confidence. Izvestia has prepared several examples of wishes:

"Congratulations on the Day of the psychologist! You can see things in a person that are hidden even from them. Let your work remain meaningful, and there will always be people around who can support you the same way you support others."

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"We cordially congratulate you on the Day of the Psychologist! Let your knowledge and intuition always lead to the right decisions, and inner fortitude helps you keep your mind clear even in the most difficult dialogues. We wish you not only to help others find themselves, but also not to lose your personal support"

"Happy professional holiday! May your efforts come back to you in the form of trust, recognition, and a sense that you are doing an important and necessary thing. We wish you new horizons of knowledge, friendship and professional recognition. Happy Psychologist's Day!"

"Congratulations on the Day of the psychologist! You're helping the world become a little more empathetic and understanding. We wish that every working day is filled with a sense of meaning, and the success of your clients becomes your personal victory. Let work inspire, and let life make you happy"

"On Psychologist's Day, we wish you to see how your words create change, and professional skills give other people a sense of strength and hope. Stay the guide in the labyrinths of souls, which helps to find light in difficult moments and find harmony. Happy holidays!"

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