PSYCHOLOGY A SCIENCE

Psychology a science



Psychology a science

(1) is psychology a science? Discuss

The Essay questions the reliability of Psychology as a science. By understanding its history, one will appreciate how the study of the mind, has evolved from Philosophical to Scientific. This is similar to people's beliefs that Psychology is merely concepts, but anyone who has an interest and is willing to spend quality time with it, will end up with the same conclusion that Psychology is indeed a science. Thus, I propose that Psychology is a science, but only to those who have prior knowledge of it.

The definition of Psychology is “the science of behaviour and mental processes”. It is a science because it relies on the scientific method. Sciences are “scientific” because they share a common method, and not because they share a common subject matter. Physics, chemistry, biology and psychology differ in what they study, yet each uses the scientific method. What is the “scientific method”?

It involves the use of 3 skills. Firstly, being skeptical. Always questioning supposed facts. Suggesting ideas for hypothesis and what evidence can be collected as part of the study. Next, Science requires one to be objective. Thus the need for scientists to conduct research studies (Pittenger, 2003). It is easy to misinterpret what we see and hear, especially since our personal judgements are not credible. Lastly, science involves thinking critically. By doing so, we can separate Fact from Fiction. Any scientist who posses these 3 attitudes, prove to us that Psychology uses basic tools of scientific theory and objective observation. This reduces the likelihood that information will be based on unreliable personal beliefs, opinions or emotions.

(2) The Humanistic Approach began in response to concerns by therapists against perceived limitations of Psychodynamic theories, especially psychoanalysis. Individuals like Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow felt existing (psychodynamic) theories failed to adequately address issues like the meaning of behavior, and the nature of healthy growth. However, the result was not simply new variations on psychodynamic theory, but rather a fundamentally new approach.

There are several factors which distinguish the Humanistic Approach from other approaches within psychology, including the emphasis on subjective meaning, a rejection of determinism, and a concern for positive growth rather than pathology. While one might argue that some psychodynamic theories provide a vision of healthy growth (including Jung's concept of individuation), the other characteristics distinguish the Humanistic Approach from every other approach within psychology (and sometimes lead theorists from other approaches to say the Humanistic Approach is not a science at all). Most psychologists believe that behavior can only be understood objectively (by an impartial observer), but the humanists argue that this results in concluding that an individual is incapable of understanding their own behavior--a view which they see as both paradoxical and dangerous to well-being. Instead, humanists like Rogers argue that the meaning of behavior is essentially personal and subjective; they further argue that accepting this idea is not unscientific, because ultimately all individuals are subjective: what makes science reliable is not ...