(When) should psychology be a science

Bibliographic Data

ID8975802
AuthorsDario Krpan (0000-0002-3420-4672, Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science London School of Economics and Political Science London UK, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume52
Issue1
Pages183-198
Publication date2021-07-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal for the Theory of Social Behaviour (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0021-8308 • E-ISSN: 1468-5914
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/jtsb.12316
OpenAlexW3186161509
LanguageEN
References cited98

Since its emergence in the 19 th century, academic psychology has striven to become accepted as a scientific discipline. This emphasis on “science” has led to many unprecedented advancements in the understanding of human behavior. However, the view that psychology must be approached as a science has become ingrained in the field over time, and critically discussing the implications of this notion has turned into a taboo. In this article, I examine the benefits and limitations of applying the scientific paradigm to psychology, and I propose when it is not optimal to approach psychology as a science if the field is to maximize its potential. Importantly, I do not imply that practicing psychology as a “non‐science” means practicing it as a pseudoscience. Quite to the contrary, I argue that not always enforcing the scientific viewpoint can prevent pseudoscientific practices and make the field more scientific in the long run

Engineering ethics · Epistemology · Field (mathematics · Pseudoscience · Psychology of science · Scientific field · Scientific progress · Sociology · Sociology of scientific knowledge · Taboo · Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Mental Health Research Topics · Philosophy · Psychology

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