Discuss the state of psychology as a science

Branch of knowledge

Objective

Systematic observation and experimentation with phenomena

‘psychology is the science of behaviour and the mind’

Scientific research is desirable

• Does ECT cure depression? We can test this

• Demanding proof makes psychology more respected

Shares the goals of all sciences

• Can be falsified – Popper

• However Miller (1983) pseudoscience status is held by psychology, claiming absolute fact, therefore the essence of science is eluded

Some levels of psychology are scientific

• Reductionist approaches

  • This is generally frowned upon by psychology as reductionism doesn’t truly make useful conclusions about behaviour

• Genetic basis

  • Meaning of behaviours is overlooked and understanding is lost

Psychology has no paradigm

• Kuhn (1962) normal science and paradigmatic shifts

• Psychology is pre science

• Psychology would need a paradigm to claim absolute truth

• It is possible psychology will find a paradigm

lacks objectivity/ control

• can behaviour really be measured?

• Biases exist in every realm of psychology, overall with poor validity

• All sciences are subject to biases e.g. the uncertainty principle in physics 

The goals of science aren’t appropriate for psychology

• Laing (1965) schizophrenia is largely misunderstood due to reductionism

• Idiographic studies may be more useful

• Science isn’t always useful in treating mental illness

• Qualitative research may be better

• We should use triangulation

400bc – Hippocrates – black bile can lead to depression

1879 – Wundt – opens the first psychology laboratory

1913 – Watson – develops behaviourism