PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE

Psychology as a Science

Psychology as a Science

Introduction

If you ask people what is psychology for them, then often covered such statements such as "doctrine of the soul", "life support", "psychoanalysis", "theory of the unconscious," deals with the depth of the human spirit "and "tries to understand people." If you ask further, how to achieve their goals of psychology tries, then one often hears, "with talks," by telling people their dreams, "" People should associate freely, "" empathy ".

Psychology is “the science of mental life” (O Nualiann,2002 p.54). Many of the schools of psychology throughout history incorporated the finding of their predecessors and their compatriots into the development of their own theories. The ideals of the schools evolved over the years as new factors developed which influenced the findings of its predecessor or compatriot.

Today psychologists may disagree with a lot of those ideas raised in the different schools of psychology, but they also acknowledge that certain teachings still form the framework of modern day psychology (Parker & Shotter 1990, p22-28).

“We still draw the ideas on valid data for psychology together with ideas on its valid framework by prescribing the types of methodology which are valid therein”. (O Nuallain. P60)

The main themes are also used as a method to prescribe today. Each theme has its advantages and disadvantages and the choice of research tactic used often depends on what the investigator is trying to find out.

It is these themes of psychology which together with valid data collected over its history that are used to prescribe today. Psychology is a new science and what is valid today may become the framework tomorrow (Parker & Shotter 1990, p22-28).

Misconceptions about Psychology

There are several reasons why people have misconceptions about psychology. Ironically, a scientific psychological study could be made as to why these misconceptions exist (Bentall 2003, p10-26).

One reason could be described with the term "wishful thinking". The attacks on scientific psychology could be connected to a general ideological movement against science. There is a fear of what research might lead to, like a kind of social change for example. People want to go back to the way it was in the past, simpler and more straightforward. With science they always have to fear the future. It might lead to segregation, for example (Boyle 2002, p9-16).

Another reason for people debating on whether psychology is a science or not is the way psychologist's methods differ from the methods used by other scientists. Take the chemists methods for example. One can see what a chemist does as he prepares mixtures because, as a result of the combination of different fluids in test tubes, color alterations or other chemical changes may occur. He can weigh and measure with exactness such variables like the temperature, pressure and the volume of different substances. On the other hand, the methods of a psychologist are hard to see systematically (Boyle 2002, p9-16).

The measuring devices are less tangible, the subjects are less amenable ...