Science and Psychology question?

[ellion]

Do you think that psychology can be studied in a rigorously scientific way?

[Grandevil]

Psychology is studied in a rigorously scientific way. Just like any other science it relies on the scientific method. Observation, hypotheses formation, conduction of studies or experiments involving real observable data, analysis, replication etc.

One of the things that bothers me about people who are unfamiliar with psychology is that many of them tend to believe it is somehow mystical and not a real science. This is of course untrue. While psychology does deal with things not typically tackled by science like intelligence and creativity, it does so in a scientific manner.

Not to get off topic, but another bothersome thing is the confusion and skepticism people seem to have about the difference between laws and theories. Many theories cannot and never will be proven. Just about the only laws that can be proven per se involve mathematical proofs. For example, gravity is a theory, not a law and can never be proven because although we can imagine a situation in which the theory of gravity was unsupported we cannot devise such a test. However, I think we all agree that gravity is real.

In the same way evolution can never be proven or disproved only supported through rigorous scientific studies of living and deceased populations.

[SWM]

hi, welcome to the forums, your scientific perspective is very much needed and welcomed on these boards.


i don't fully agree with your viewpoint even though i do value it. perhaps my profession would not be considered as psychology by yourself as i do not rely on any evidence or research and rely more on the relationship between the practitioner and the client and the exploration of experience. understanding of the client is achieved by observation and attention to the indivdual with recognition that every individual is unique and the conception of their problem should also be unique. science and the scientific method has little value in the process of personality change that takes place in such a therapeutic realtionship as this.

your point about theory and law is interesting and something i would like to know more about. i recognise that perhaps my training while valuable for me in helping me to negotiate the deeper levels of human experience has perhaps left me with gaps in my knowldege. this point of theory and law is one of those gaps.