Chapter 14 - Psychology and Society

Question 1

In what five ways has society influenced psychology?

Answer 1

1. The decline of religious impact and the increase in scientific thinking in Western society (this helped with growth)
2. Society provides topics and metaphors that help in the understanding of phenomena (e.g., the mind as a computer)
3. Socio-political influences the ideas of psychology/they study (e.g., intelligence testing and social and biological factors of gender identity)
4. Above influences on daily practice (e.g., ethical concerns, psych tests in court)
5. Psychology gets used by society in a way they see fit (e.g., the surveillance of certain groups, or combining findings with made-up claims)
6. Psychology is or may be used against certain groups (e.g., prisoners, war)

Question 2

What did Cummings and O’Donohue argue about a failing of psychology (in regards to society)?

Answer 2

That it hasn’t played its cards well in power games (e.g., failed a proper allience with medicine, justification for PHDs, the divide in practitioner vs. researchers, etc.)

Question 3

What are 6 ways in which psychology has influenced society?

Answer 3

1. The psychologisation of society
2. Psychological labels > social reality (even if they may be somewhat arbitrary)
3. Increased psych power by affiliating with established groups (e.g., education)
4. Psych increased power by creating new needs and propose solutions (e.g., disorders/every-day problems labeled as such?)
5. Psych promotes values, it is not politaclly neutral (e.g., promotion of liberal values)
6. Psych also promotes science vs. religion (and has difficulty endorsing the latter)

Question 4

What is the psychologisation of society?

Answer 4

1. People have become seen as persons with their own thoughts, emotions, etc.
2. The impact of psych on how people interact

Question 5

There is a discrepancy with psychology as it is and how it is portrayed/viewed by the public, how so? What question does this pose?

Answer 5

Knowledge of psych is largely driven by media, which has simplified and sensationalized many aspects of it (e.g., mental disorders) > Do psych studies matter and do they make a difference?