Grigoriy Kostiuk Ukrainian Soviet psychologist. Date of Birth: 05.12.1899 Country: Ukraine

Biography of Grigory Kostyuk

Grigory Silovich Kostyuk was a Ukrainian Soviet psychologist, born at the turn of the century in a peasant family. He was accepted on a full scholarship at the Pavel Galagan Collegium, a prestigious educational institution in Kiev. While continuing his education at the Kyiv Higher Institute of Popular Education, Kostyuk worked as a teacher in his hometown, teaching mathematics. He completed his studies in 1923.

In the late 1920s, Kostyuk became the head of an experimental school under the Ministry of Education of the Ukrainian SSR. During this time, he also pursued his postgraduate studies in psychology, conducted research on the intellectual development of students, and published several articles. In 1930, Kostyuk became the head of the Psychology Department at the Kyiv Pedagogical Institute and the Department of Psychology at the Ukrainian Research Institute of Pedagogy.

During World War II, Kostyuk served as the head of the Pedagogy and Psychology Department at a institute in Stalingrad while being evacuated. After relocating to Kazakhstan, he taught at the United Ukrainian University. Upon his return to liberated Kyiv, he resumed his previous positions. In 1945, Kostyuk initiated the establishment of the Research Institute of Psychology under the Ministry of Education of the Ukrainian SSR, which is now known as the G.S. Kostyuk Institute of Psychology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Kostyuk served as the director of the institute for 27 years, leading intensive research, training psychologists, and continuing his teaching activities at the Kyiv Pedagogical Institute named after A.M. Gorky. In 1947, he was elected as a corresponding member of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the RSFSR, and in 1967, he became a full member when the academy was transformed into an all-union institution. He held various positions within the Academy and also headed the Ukrainian branch of the Society of Psychologists of the USSR.

Kostyuk was honored with the title of "Honored Scientist of the Ukrainian SSR" and received several prestigious awards, including the Order of Lenin and two Orders of the Red Banner of Labor. Throughout his career, he published more than 250 works, demonstrating his broad knowledge, deep understanding of the subjects he studied, and a clear methodology for solving practical problems in the field of education.

Kostyuk was known for his collaboration with renowned cybernetics scientist, academician V.M. Glushkov. Together, they conducted research on programmed learning and developed effective man-machine systems and programming languages. Their work made a significant contribution to the development of computer-based education.

Kostyuk's approach to psychological analysis emphasized the importance of understanding new objects by solving cognitive tasks. He believed that mental development was characterized by qualitative changes in an individual's personality and the progressive movement from lower to higher levels of mental activity. He also recognized the role of internal contradictions in driving mental development and emphasized the importance of educational interventions in resolving these contradictions and promoting self-directed learning.

Grigory Silovich Kostyuk was a renowned psychologist who made significant contributions to the field of psychology in Ukraine and the Soviet Union. His research, teaching, and organizational achievements continue to be recognized and celebrated in the field of psychology.