Perspectives in Psychology - Essay Example

Psychological Perspectives Unit TAQ Psychology as a Science The consideration of psychology as a science has brought forthdivergent views from different personalities. Each side of the divide seems to have a reasonable argument. However, looking keenly at psychology based on the five requirements for a rigorous science, psychology passes most of them while in others it scores averagely. These requirements are the ability to be quantified, the use of clear terminologies, reproducibility, controlled experimental conditions, and the ability to be predicted and tested. Despite these requirements being laid down as the basis of science, a growing science like psychology suffers biasness when this position is taken. On the other hand, psychology meets the goal of science, which is to “create reasonable explanations to describe reality” (Lutus 2013, p.1). Any field that satisfies to be a science uses evidence to provide theories that explain happenings. In addition, there is no scientific theory that is absolute in its explanation of a given phenomenon; this means that scientific theories cannot be categorized as facts. Psychology has some components of science, therefore it qualifies to be a science but relatively less rigorous than other sciences such as chemistry or physics. Psychology has grown over the years to incorporate research that has brought it forth as a cognitive science. Initially, psychology was mainly about behaviorism, an aspect that was difficult to prove scientifically. However, with the consideration of modern psychology as a cognitive science, experimentation and processing of information has made psychology to be more of a science (Watts 2009, p.4). The growth of psychology towards this end has been seen in the middle of the 20th century, an indicator that it is on a growth towards being a fully-fledged science. Gelman and Hill (2007, p.3) notes that the developments in statistical analysis and well as techniques in psychology has boosted the quantitative an experimental view of psychology, an aspect has made it to depict more scientific attributes. Science is empirical in its approach, so is psychology. According to John Locke’s empiricism senses provides the only source of knowledge, this is a contradiction of the rationalism that took center stage in the previous years. The development of the rigorous sciences such as physics and chemistry was founded on the empirical approach. This approach involved the use of experiments and observations, which would provide evidence for conclusions to be made. In the early years in the development of science especially in the 17th and 18th centuries, science heavily relied on induction, most of the scientific theories developed were based on observations made on regular basis. Over the years, the system has changed to involve the hypothetico-deductive model, which was developed by Karl Popper in 1935 (Fincham & Hewstone n.d). This approach allows the scientist not only to observe but also to develop a test that can substantiate the observation. Despite having roots in the ancient Greece, psychology is a relatively new field. During Socrates, Plato and Aristotle’s time, psychology took a very philosophical approach. Philosophical in the sense that no experiments were done; it entailed the rational investigations of people’s conduct, attitudes, knowledge, and being (Jogaleker 2013, p.1). The growth of psychology as a science has been not so long time ago. The first view that opened up the science in psychology as the 17th century propositions by Descartes that consciousness is what made humans and animals different (Baumeister, Vohs & Funder 2007, p.390). More philosophies on psychology opened it up to have some scientific basis. Despite these early interventions, psychology never came out clearly as a science. The establishment of a psychology laboratory by Wilheim Wundt in 1879 was a major step towards the adoption of psychology as a science. However, in the later years of 1800s that is when some work began to be done on the use of scientific techniques in the investigation of psychological behavior (McLeod 2008). Therefore being a relatively new science, the exploration of psychology as a science has not been fully exploited. Psychological studies are getting to be objective and do explain cause effect relationships. Being a relatively new science, not all the researchers adhere to the scientific requirements of objectivity and the use of operational variables that relate causes and effects. Objectivity in science entails lack of engaging the thoughts and ideas of the researcher in predicting the outcomes of the research. In some instances, psychologists have used case studies, which provide scientific evidence of situations. Objectivity also requires that experimentation is well formulated and the researcher keeps off from presenting biased interpretations (Lilienfeld 2010, p.283). Psychological studies have used variables; the independent and dependent. In most of these scenarios, dependent variables have been seen to be affected by the independent variable. This explains the cause and effect relationships between the variables. Though the variables are sometimes difficult to identify, there are certain trends in psychological research that have been identified through scientific investigations. To some extent, modern psychological studies adhere to positivism in the sense that they attempt to be objective and works towards establishing the reality (Standen n.d, p.1). However, despite this view, all sciences have their levels of biasness, so is psychology, scientific knowledge is not always factual though it is based on the need to understand reality. The modern concept of psychology entails the study of human thoughts and actions using scientific techniques and procedures. According to Kaplan (1964) science is basically a “deliberate search, carried out with care and forethought, as contrasted with the casual and largely passive perceptions of everyday life” (p. 126). As defined, science captures a wide range of fields bearing in mind the adherence to scientific procedures. This means very strongly scientific fields such as physics as well as others such as psychology are incorporated. It is apparent that some of the highly scientific fields lack some of the scientific attributes; an aspect that does not disqualify them to be sciences. A good example is astronomy where controlled experimentations are highly unlikely. The fact that science has the limitation of relying on repeated and controlled observations is not a sufficient reason to discredit psychology to be a science. Psychologists have conducted experiments, which have demonstrated certain trends and behaviors among the people with a certain level of precision. Such experiments are reproducible and provide meaningful explanations (Ackerman n.d, p.1). In conclusion, psychology can be substantively be argued to be a science since it meets the basic criteria of a science. The only issue with psychology is that it is relatively new and will require more advancement before to gets to the levels of rigorous sciences such as physics and chemistry. Having emanated from a philosophical history, psychology has been interpreted by many scientists as less of a science. However, its ability to be tested and have reproducible findings, having controlled experimental conditions, being able to be quantified, and predictability is enough evidence to consider psychology as a science. TAQ 2: Psychological Approaches Psychological Approach Basic Assumptions Strengths Weaknesses Cognitive In this approach, the main concern is the behavior as provided by internal mental explanations. Of essence in this approach are the mental processes, this entails the way in which humans perceive information, their mental take of the information and how it is stored. The approach assumes that humans are constantly engaged in thoughts about events and consequently deducing meaning from their perceptions. It is clear from this approach that the mind operates in a manner predicted by an individual’s behavior. Just as a computer receives information and processes it, the proponents of this approach argue that the human mind has the capacity and goes ahead to affect the human behavior. This approach provides a very reliable system of deducing the processes of thinking and the way people perceive different things. It is apparent that the influence of the processes that goes on in the mind in relation to behavior is given a consideration. This approach is also quite applicable in real-life situations in such areas as providing therapy for mental conditions, and in problem solving among others (McLeod 2007, P.1). Despite the capability of this approach to use the mental capacity to tell a behavior, the approach is very mechanistic; it literary compares the capacity of a human mind to a computer which is likely to be erroneous. while the computers are programmed, humans are not. In addition, humans are subject to feelings, which is not the case for the computers. Therefore, it can be argued that this approach is ignorant of the emotions, motivations and other social factors, which affects humans (Columbia College n.d, p.1). Another weakness with this approach is that it is deficient of ecological validity. This means that the behaviors studied may not necessarily be the daily occurrences because of the control that is involved Psycho-dynamic The experience that a person obtains during their growth influences the behavior that one depicts in their later life. This approach proposes that childhood deeds, attitudes, and experiences play a pivotal role in the development of behavior (McLeod 2007, P.1). This theory assumes that each of the growth stages (Psycosexual stages) of a human as a child is characterized by growth of a certain part of the body. When a child engages in a given activity more than it should be or is denied, the same reflects in their adulthood. In this approach, behavior is said to be motivated by id, ego, and superego. The id is the primitive personality, the ego is the rational, and the superego is a stage in which primitivity is overcome, usually occurring during the phallic stage(Columbia College n.d, p.1). This approach helps identify the importance of grooming a child towards the development of acceptable behavior in adulthood. It also underpins the importance of the conscious mind in the development of a child. It also helps identify that there are many contributors to one’s personality; it provides for the rational and irrational thoughts depicted by humans. Some of the conditions that do not have a clear pattern of development have been associated with childhood experiences. Finally, it is ideal in describing the complexities of life (Columbia College n.d, p.1). While the theory has some basis from real life situations, it is deficient of empirical evidence; it highly relies on case studies which are biased based on the incorporation of the views of the researcher (McLeod 2007, P.1).. On the other hand, the approach is determinist in nature, it predicts that the childhood behavior will be innate while that in the adulthood is determined by the childhood behaviors. The ambiguity brought by the ability of the approach to fit to any of the behaviors makes it difficult to falsify the approach. The approach also in clearly bringing forth the cause effect relationship where correlations as used in this approach cannot substantively be used in proving causes. Behaviorist In this approach, the assumption is that all behaviors are learnt; this involves the experiences one goes through as they interact with the environment. The behavior and habits acquired are based on the influence of the environment. It also provides that some new behaviors in the environment can be acquired through association. According to operant conditioning, new behaviors emanates from positive or negative results (reinforcement, punishment or reward). The environment is the main predictor of how a person behaves. This approach provides behaviors that are easily testable. Most of the explanations provided through this approach can be easily tested such that it is possible to falsify any of the arguments put forth through this approach. Another strength is that the research forms the basis of the explanations of the environmental influence on behavior. In addition, the approach is ideal for explaining differences between different personalities. Finally, the approach is highly practical and provides for an explanation of the influence of social settings (McLeod 2007, P.1). This approach can underestimate the biological approach. In addition, the approach is determinist in the sense that it provides that people are influenced by factors that are within their control (environmental factors). This means that there is no responsibility assigned to an individual on the basis of their behavior, the environment is the victim in this case. It also underrates the ability of humans to depict the ability to have free will. Finally, he approach is reductionist in the sense that other behavioral explanations are not sought. References Ackerman, P. D. (n.d) psychology as a science, retrieved from http://www.creationism.org/csshs/v05n1p13.htm Baumeister, R.F., Vohs, K. D. & Funder, D.C (2007) Psychology as he science of self-reports and finger movements, Association for Psychological Science, vol 2: 4, 396-403, retrieved from http://www.carlsonschool.umn.edu/assets/95164.pdf Columbia College (n.d) major perspectives in psychology, retrieved from http://www.ccis.edu/courses/psyc101a/Major%20Perspectives%20in%20Psychology.htm Fincham, F.D & Hewstone, M. (n.d) The science of psychology, Blackwell Publishing, retrieved from http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/intropsych/pdf/chapter1.pdf Gelman, A. & Hill, J. (2006) Data analysis using regression and multilevel/hierarchical models, Cambridge University Press. Jogaleker, A. (2013) Is psychology a “real” science? Does it really matter? Retrieved from http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/the-curious-wavefunction/2013/08/13/is-psychology-a-real-science-does-it-really-matter/ Kaplan, A. (1964) The conduct of inquiry Methodology for behavioral science. San Francisco: Chandler. Lilienfeld, S. O. (2010) can psychology become a science, Personality and Individual Differences, retrieved from http://www.bryanburnham.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Lilienfeld-2010.pdf Lutus, P. (2013) Is psychology a science? Retrieved from http://www.distancelearningcentre.com/access/assessments_extras/pip/Is_Psychology_a_Science_.pdf McLeod, S. A. (2007) Psychology Perspectives, Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/perspective.html McLeod, S. A. (2008) Psychology as a Science, Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/science-psychology.html Standen, J. (n.d) Some philosophical roots of science and psychology, retrieved from http://www.jeffstanden.net/Science%20ismsxx.htm Watts, S. (2009) How Psychology became a science, retrieved from http://www.sagepub.com/upm-data/32590_02_Banyard_02.pdf Read More