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Why psychology isn't science
LA Times ^ | 7-13-2012 | Alex B. Berezow

Posted on 07/13/2012 1:03:03 PM PDT by Sir Napsalot

Psychologist Timothy D. Wilson, a professor at the University of Virginia, expressed resentment in his Times Op-Ed article on Thursday over the fact that most scientists don't consider his field a real science. He casts scientists as condescending bullies:

"Once, during a meeting at my university, a biologist mentioned that he was the only faculty member present from a science department. When I corrected him, noting that I was from the Department of Psychology, he waved his hand dismissively, as if I were a Little Leaguer telling a member of the New York Yankees that I too played baseball.

"There has long been snobbery in the sciences, with the 'hard' ones (physics, chemistry, biology) considering themselves to be more legitimate than the 'soft' ones (psychology, sociology)."

The dismissive attitude scientists have toward psychologists isn't rooted in snobbery; it's rooted in intellectual frustration. It's rooted in the failure of psychologists to acknowledge that they don't have the same claim on secular truth that the hard sciences do. It's rooted in the tired exasperation that scientists feel when non-scientists try to pretend they are scientists.

That's right. Psychology isn't science.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Science; Society
KEYWORDS: faithandphilosophy; psychology; science; uva; virginia
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To: tired&retired

I recently attended the American Psychiatric Association Conference in Philadelphia and spent the week updating on all the evidence based methods approved for treating PTSD and traumatic memories. Virtually all methods merely temporarily blocked memory retrieval and did not resolve the problem permanently. The best treatment, other than the long process of psychotherapy, was the virtual reality programs that facilitated retrieval and reframing of the traumatic memory.

Generally, pharmacology does not treat psychological causes, it merely blocks the symptoms.


41 posted on 07/13/2012 2:41:39 PM PDT by tired&retired
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To: Sir Napsalot

Until they start attaching lie detectors to patients or invent a machine that can tell them what I am thinking then psycology is as inaccurate as an online poll. Bear in mind that DUmmies overwhelm these polls, both psycological and online.


42 posted on 07/13/2012 2:44:30 PM PDT by Blogatron (Brought to you by The American Frog Council; 'Frog - The other green meat')
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To: Melas

I’d be far more inclined to say psychiatry is more science than psychology, at least the person then is an actual medical doctor.

Psychology is a major people go into to get burger flipper jobs. You can’t get anywhere serious in that field with just a bachelor’s degree in psychology.


43 posted on 07/13/2012 2:50:24 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Sir Napsalot
cause it's subjective???
44 posted on 07/13/2012 3:00:29 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: allmendream
"A rather interesting (and scary) proposition - especially if you are a borderline psycho like Hubbard!"

I think old L. Ron made a run for the border...and crossed it.

45 posted on 07/13/2012 3:06:10 PM PDT by Flag_This (Real presidents don't bow.)
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To: All

But, I do observe myself and co-workers exhibit some snobbishness to a degree from time to time towards ‘social studies’.


46 posted on 07/13/2012 3:18:55 PM PDT by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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To: Sir Napsalot
Why psychology isn't science

It's a lot closer to witchcraft than it is to geology.

47 posted on 07/13/2012 3:26:04 PM PDT by the invisib1e hand (A Dalmation was spotted wagging its tail.)
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To: Secret Agent Man
I’d be far more inclined to say psychiatry is more science than psychology, at least the person then is an actual medical doctor.

Apples and oranges. There is a lot of overlap today, especially with medical psychologists (degree in pyschopharmocology) found in most of the 1st world, and now gaining ground in the USA. However, I'd say that a psychiatrist is much better suited for organic brain disorders such as schizophrenia, while a psychologists are better suited for non-organic illnesses such as the aforementioned PTSD.

Psychology is a major people go into to get burger flipper jobs. You can’t get anywhere serious in that field with just a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

I fail to see the relevance. We're discussing psychology as a profession, which pretty much means we're talking about Phd's. Possibly masters prepared LLC's. There are plenty of professions that require post graduate degrees or professional degrees. I don't see how the value of a bachelors applies to this discussion at all.

48 posted on 07/13/2012 3:59:37 PM PDT by Melas (u)
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To: tired&retired
The best treatment, other than the long process of psychotherapy...

Old on a second here. The long process of psychotherapy has a pretty damned good track record for PTSD. Why dismiss it so quickly?

49 posted on 07/13/2012 4:03:07 PM PDT by Melas (u)
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To: Melas

It is relevant.

With a 4 year degree in many other fields you can get an entry level job in that particular field. Engineers, journalists, teachers, business degrees, can all get you a spot in a real world job in your field. Not so much so psychology. The 4-year degree is just a starting point usually.

Of course any field if you want to do research or teach you go for advanced degrees.

The other interesting thing is that so many psychologists themselves are seeing a psychologist for their own issues. Another unusual aspect of this field.


50 posted on 07/13/2012 5:22:47 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Secret Agent Man
The other interesting thing is that so many psychologists themselves are seeing a psychologist for their own issues. Another unusual aspect of this field.

Can't argue that one. The number of doctors I know who went into medicine as the result of a personal or family illness/tragedy is also staggering, and I know a lot of docs.

51 posted on 07/13/2012 5:36:04 PM PDT by Melas (u)
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To: Melas

Not quite the same thing,but I see where you are coming from. Not only do the go the doc route, but nurse, emt, etc.


52 posted on 07/13/2012 5:47:46 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Sir Napsalot

Did you put this in chat?


53 posted on 07/13/2012 5:55:36 PM PDT by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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To: neverdem
Ummm, .... yes.

/nervously biting my nails

54 posted on 07/13/2012 6:02:01 PM PDT by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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To: tired&retired
Virtually all methods merely temporarily blocked memory retrieval and did not resolve the problem permanently. The best treatment, other than the long process of psychotherapy, was the virtual reality programs that facilitated retrieval and reframing of the traumatic memory.

I imagine this would include the construction of an emotional cushion/buffer zone that would allow the traumatized individual a safe emotional place in which to observe and re-evaluate the retrieved traumatic memory/memories.

55 posted on 07/13/2012 6:02:47 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: Secret Agent Man; Melas
The other interesting thing is that so many psychologists themselves are seeing a psychologist for their own issues. Another unusual aspect of this field.

Another interesting thing about this field is that the aspirational practitioner is seen (by others in the field) as equivalent to the professional practitioner. Compare this with the professions of medicine, law, accounting, and engineering.

56 posted on 07/13/2012 6:12:36 PM PDT by thecodont
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To: Melas

You misread my statement, or I was not clear... Psychotherapy is by far the best treatment, but it takes longer and is more costly.

I was merely saying “best treatment, other than the long process of psychotherapy...”


57 posted on 07/13/2012 8:43:32 PM PDT by tired&retired
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To: Melas

You misread my statement, or I was not clear... Psychotherapy is by far the best treatment, but it takes longer and is more costly.

I was merely saying “best treatment, other than the long process of psychotherapy...”


58 posted on 07/13/2012 8:43:43 PM PDT by tired&retired
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To: thecodont

“I imagine this would include the construction of an emotional cushion/buffer zone that would allow the traumatized individual a safe emotional place in which to observe and re-evaluate the retrieved traumatic memory/memories.”

That is the first part of a good virtual reality program.


59 posted on 07/13/2012 8:48:13 PM PDT by tired&retired
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To: GraceG
Psychology will only become “real” science when we can digitize the entire working human brain and analyse it like we would a computer in a car.

Instead of conjuring up feelings about psychology's past, take a look at modern cognitive science. It's darned impressive.

60 posted on 07/13/2012 8:51:52 PM PDT by Moonman62 (The US has become a government with a country, rather than a country with a government.)
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