(When) should psychology be a science?

Krpan, Dario ORCID: 0000-0002-3420-4672 (2022) (When) should psychology be a science? Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour, 52 (1). 183 - 198. ISSN 0021-8308

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Abstract

Since its emergence in the 19th 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.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/14685914
Additional Information:	© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Divisions:	Psychological and Behavioural Science
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Date Deposited:	04 Aug 2021 13:45
Last Modified:	28 Jan 2025 06:24
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/111536

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