On new developments, achievements and prospects of psychological science in the interdisciplinary field of futures studies

Abstract

The relevance of the research is due by the lack of fundamental scientific works devoted to the theoretical and methodological substantiation of the psychological support of social forecasting as a theoretical and practical activity.

The purpose of the article is to present the results of the fundamental scholar research «Psychological approaches to forecasting social processes» (DR №0120U000155), carried out in 2020-2022 by the research team of the Laboratory for the Methodology of Psychosocial and Political-Psychological Research ISPP NAES of Ukraine

Methodology and scientific approaches. An overview summary of the results of the research project and scientific papers published since its completion.

Results. The conception and methodological foundations of psychology of social forecasting are substantiated. It contains a system of psychological principles and approaches to the forecasting of social processes, and theoretical (social psychological) models built on their basis for developing strategies and technologies for social forecasting. The results of the research project are presented in five monographs and a curriculum, which together form the «Fundamentals of the Psychology of Social Forecasting» Training Kit. All books prepared as a result of research project are available in the open access. This allows anyone interested in the problems of futures research and social forecasting to learn more about the possibilities and potential of socio-psychological science in this area.

The practical significance of the results lies in legitimizing the status of socio-psychological science in the field of social forecasting and substantiating the general methodological positions of the psychology of social forecasting, which open up new prospects for the practical socio-psychological support of social forecasting. Psychological theory and practice for social forecasting methodologically will be able to strengthen the forecasting of social phenomena and processes, which as a result will significantly increase the managerial ability to qualitatively satisfy urgent social needs. The study the theoretical and methodological foundations of the psychological support of social forecasting – as part of the professional competencies of expert activity – is necessary for the successful implementation of expert tasks in the field of social forecasting, both in the short and long term.