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The Science of Psychology
Davis Pratt
Salt Lake Community College
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The Science of Psychology
Science is our way of interpreting our surroundings; we experiment, and then evaluate
and label our findings. Geology, astronomy and biology all concern our world (and greater
universe). They also all have physical manifestations we can measure and touch. Psychology
does not concern rocks or ancient pots; instead it is the study of something far more variant, the
human mind. However, when dealing with the intangible and the unseen, aspects like the
evolution of personality and the causes of angst, the tactic and definition to this study is less
finite. Is the difference so great as to prevent psychology from being a science at all?
Definitions
In 1981 an Arkansas court ruling defined true science by these five characteristics:
1. It is guided by natural law;
2. It has to be explanatory by natural law;
3. It is testable against the empirical world;
4. 1t’s conclusions are tentative, and not necessarily the final word;
5. It is falsifiable.
So, does basic psychology make the cut? The textbook writers Schuster, Gilbert &
Werner (2011) define Psychology as the scientific study of the mind and behavior.
Is the human mind bound by natural law? Perhaps, and many psychologists seem to wish
to explain it as if it was. As inexplicable as the nuances of personality may seem, psychology
seeks to find an overarching constant that can be applied to benefit any patient; be it a universal
system of cognitive development or a chart of tactics to treat depressed tendencies. Knowing
such a system will be an important step toward truly curing all ills. The natural laws of
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psychology are currently a matter for debate. Due to the ethereal nature of the subject, we’ve yet
to discover an apparent and undisputed system comparable to the laws of physics.
Everything’s up for discussion, which in turn fits the fourth item on our list. Psychology’s
theories are certainly not the final word, and are up for further study and potential replacement.
Even one of the most famous and influential psychologist, Sigmund Freud, has been largely
overruled in modern day.
Is psychology testable? Of course. Many experiments have been conducted, with
everything from rats in cages to babies around loud noises. However, there are multiple ways to
interpret each situation. It’s hard to come up with a list of concrete terms and stages of memory
from watching how long it takes a monkey to find a favorite toy. At least it’s hard to come up
with one that someone won’t falsify, or at least disagree with.
The work of psychologists: to prove their findings logically and reasonably, is not an
easy one.
History
The first psychological laboratory was opened in 1879 by Wilhelm Wundt. Situated at the
University of Leipzig, Germany, this lab and its pupils are credited with introducing psychology
as an academic science (WBGH 2001).
The roots of psychology hail from long before, to the reasoning of Plato and Socrates in
ancient Greece (Schuster et all 2011). Later on, Wundt Hermann von Helmholtz helped define a
new study, psychology, as a branch split from physiology. Physiology monitored the body’s
processes, the flow of blood, the nature of the lungs, that sort of thing. It was decided that the
mental processes and the mind itself were intricate enough they required the attention of a whole
new field.
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Notable theories for understanding how people think, notions like behaviorism and
humanism, as well as personality classifications and developmental stages, have bled over into
other social sciences, like sociology and even economics.
Over time, the study has grown and developed. Sigmund Freud was the father of
psychoanalysis, the theory that actions and desires were based on repressed ideas and emotions
in the subconscious (Schuster et all 2011). Although his ideas about dreams and sensuality have
been somewhat discounted, analyzing a life to try to see how someone thinks, to get inside their
head, and then use what is found there to help them work things out, is psychology’s foremost
practice.
Philosophy and Psychology
It is here that the comparisons between psychology and physiology truly split, and the
dispute begins. It is one thing to take someone’s blood pressure, it’s quite another decide whether
man is inherently good or evil. After a study by the American Psychological Institute (APA) on
the scientific value and comparisons of psychology, the director of the study, Sigmund Koch
(1959-1963) said this:
“The truth is that psychological statements which describe human behavior or which
report results from tested research can be scientific. However, when there is a move from
describing human behavior to explaining it there is also a move from science to opinion.”
Psychology uses the scientific method to address the same questions asked by great thinkers like
Plato and Aristotle. Many of the questions it raises and attempts to answer are far less definite
than the mechanics of an asteroid.
That is where psychology leaves science behind, and joins hand in hand with philosophy.
Conclusion
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Psychology resembles a science in some ways, and not in others. It is a matter of personal
discretion how to classify it, as well as an issue worth discussion and consideration, whether or
not a conclusion can logically be reached.
One thing that psychology has in common both with science and philosophy, is that it’s
practice forces us to question, and in doing so grow and mature, as well as learn a thing or too.
Whether or not the art of psychology ought to be placed on the shelf beside Newton or Locke
does not make it any less valuable to humanity.
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References
Koch, S. (1959-1963) Psychology: A Study Of a Science. New York: McGraw-Hill
Lutus, P. (2009, May 12) Is Psychology A Science. Retrieved from
http://www.arachnoid.com/psychology/
Lutus, P. (2013). The Trouble With Psychology. Retrieved from
http://www.arachnoid.com/trouble_with_psychology/index.html
Overton, W. (1981). Mclean vs. The Board of Education. Retrieved from
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/mclean-v-arkansas.html
Schacter, D. L., Gilbert, D. T, & Wegner, D. M. (2011). Introducing Psychology. New
York: Worth Publishers.
WBGH Educational Foundation (2001). History of Psychology. Retrieved from
http://www.learner.org/series/discoveringpsychology/history/history_nonflash.html