There has been an argument on whether psychology is a science or pseudoscience. Psychology is the defined by the American Psychology Association as the study of the behavior and mind (Carlson, 2014). It studies how the mind works, and how it affects the behavior. Pseudoscience consists of observations or beliefs that are incorrectly considered to be founded on scientific methods (Armstrong, 2010). Scientific methods are the procedures that characterize natural science that is characterized by operationalizable definition, a measurement that is reliable, control conditions, and reliability (Armstrong, 2010). From these definitions characteristics, psychology can be argued to be a science.
Why psychology is a science
Psychology is science as because it is based on scientific process. The scientific process is founded on a hypothetico-deductive model formulated by Karl Popper (Sharma, 2006). He proposed that theories ought to be put first, which are then applied in the generation of hypotheses that are falsifiable through experiment and observation. Popper points out that falsification is the only way of being certain (Yearley, 1985). Classic Psychologists rely on laboratory controlled experiments and reject any invisible or hidden forces as influencing behavior (Dienes, 2008). The lab based approach is also adopted by cognitive psychologists (Carlson, 2014). Thus psychology can be regarded as science as uses experiments and observation to falsify theories.
Psychology is science as its theories can be falsified. According to Popper the typical method of pseudoscience is looking for verifications. If any behavior by an individual can be explained, then the theory cannot be criticized using observations. It means that it loses its empirical character. Theories can only be improved if they are criticized (Dienes, 2008). Popper was trying to differentiate science from non-science was not only on classification but also an analysis of how to grow knowledge. Regarding the growing knowledge the point is whether a theory is used in inspiring falsifiable predictions, which in turn are applied in the improvement of the theory. Psychology conducts observations and experiments with the aim of testing a theory. It thus means that psychological theories are falsifiable, creating room for criticism and verification. Psychological theories have an empirical character (L'Abate, 2014). However, it does not mean that it is all the psychological theories that have an empirical character. As Popper points out, the Freudian psychoanalysis theory is not falsifiable. That is contrary to the view of Grunbaum, who argued that the theory is falsifiable. He argues based on the fact that comprehensible projections can be drawn from the psychoanalysis theory account (Lack " Rousseau, 2016). Consequently, psychological theories are scientific as they contain prediction statements making psychology a science.
Conclusion
Psychology is a science because it uses scientific methods. Psychology shows characteristics of scientific methods. Psychology uses theories that generate hypotheses. The hypotheses are verified using empirical methods and observations. Psychology is also considered science due to its theories that can be criticized. Hence psychological theories have empirical character. Psychological theories such as the psychoanalysis theory have prediction statements that are verified through empirical methods to increase knowledge and grow the theory. From these arguments, it is evident that psychology can be classified as a science.
References
Armstrong, B. (2010). Scientific methods. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73, 7.
Carlson, N. R. (2014). Psychology: The science of behavior. Pearson.
Dienes, Z. (2008). Understanding psychology as a science: An introduction to scientific and statistical inference. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
L'Abate, L. (2014). Clinical psychology and psychotherapy as a science. Place of publication not identified: Springer.
Lack, C. W., " Rousseau, J. (2016). Critical thinking, science, and pseudoscience: Why we can't trust our brains. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Sharma, A. (2006). Scientific methods. New Delhi: Vishvabharti Publications.
Yearley, S. (1985). Imputing intentionality: Popper, demarcation and Darwin, Freud and Marx. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 16, 4, 337-50.
