The significance of empirical and applied research in the holistic system of social psychology proposed by B.D. Parygin is revealed. The scientist is known to the scientific community primarily as the found-er of the philosophical and sociological trend in social psychology, the author of fundamental theoretical works. The paper explicates the integral unity of theory, methodology and practice in the work of Parygin, the inex-tricable links of his developments to the specific historical reality of the society. Empirical studies conducted by Parygin on group activities and communication are presented in detail and analyzed; his developments on leadership; practical developments in the field of diagnostics, forecasting and regulation of the socio-psycho-logical climate of the team; the model for partnership training, which Parygin proposed. The holistic, authen-tic and original nature of the system of social psychology developed by Parygin, the scientist’s focus on the domestic scientific tradition and culture is shown.