Psychology is the science of human behavior and mental processes. But how did this science begin? What were the beginnings of psychology more than 2000 years ago? The study of the human psyche began long before our era. One of the first scientists to study psychology was the Greek philosopher Plato. He believed that there are two realities: the world of things and the world of ideas. In his opinion, a person can achieve ideal knowledge only through reflection and introspection. Another Greek philosopher, Aristotle, also studied psychology. He believed that the psyche consists of three parts: rational, irrational and appetitive. The rational part is responsible for thinking, the irrational part is responsible for perception, the appetitive part is for desires and needs. There were also scientists in India who studied psychology. For example, Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, taught that the path to happiness lies in being aware of your thoughts and emotions. He believed that a person could achieve enlightenment if he learned to control his mind. In China there were also scientists who studied psychology. For example, Confucius taught that a person should strive for harmony in his life. He believed that to do this it was necessary to develop one's wisdom and understanding. With the development of Christianity in Europe, psychology became associated with religion. In the Middle Ages, scientists studied psychology through the lens of theology. For example, Thomas Aquinas, one of the most famous scientists of his time, taught that man consists of body and soul. The soul is responsible for thinking and perception, and the body is responsible for action. During the Enlightenment, psychology began to develop as a science. One of the first psychologists was Rene Descartes. He believed that the mind and body are two different entities that cannot interact with each other. He also taught that thinking is the only thing that can be considered absolutely true. In the 19th century, psychology became more scientific. One of the most famous psychologists of that time was Wilhelm Wundt. He founded the first psychology laboratory in Germany and studied human perception and attention. In the 20th century, psychology continued its development. New schools and directions were created, such as behavioral psychology, Gestalt psychology, psychoanalysis, etc. Thus, the beginnings of psychology can be found in various cultures and eras. Today, psychology is a science that studies human behavior and mental processes, and that helps people better understand themselves and others.