Scientific Status

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Often defined as the science of the mind and behaviour. Psychology display some characteristics of a science such as objective and controlled measures. However issue is this is not always possible in psychology as there are various theories and concepts that have not been tested, questions it’s scientific status

Question 2

Benefits of being science

Answer 2

Opening
definition of psychology by BPS, as a science, allows evaluation of usefulness of theories
(Link)

Evidence
Five force factors help to uncover truths and facts about world. Benefits of scientific method are listed. Falsifiable: allows theories to be proven wrong as well as right, Objective: means theories should be probed and not based on personal beliefs, Replicable: Scientific experiments should be repeated and consistent results should be achieved, Controlled: Standardised conditions uses, Empirical: Information gained is through direct observation or experiment than beliefs.

Strength (or talk about s+w of loftus)
Psychology as discipline can be improved by adopting these values. McCrone report indicates it would be possible to save £22.5 billion a year if psychology became more scientific through successful prescriptions of anti psychotics compared to therapy. Helps improve quality of life of individuals suffering with psychological conditions. Antipsychotics research came about due to reducing down to one factor. (Link)

Weakness
Cost of reducing down to force factors is risk of losing important elements of human behaviour. Studies such as Bowlbys maternal deprivation have provided practical applications for society on how to care for children, improving practices worldwide, yet not considered scientific. (Link)

Conclusion
Therefore although there are benefits of being a science, risk losing holistic nature of psychology that are valuable. (Link)

Question 3

Costs of being a science

Answer 3

Opening
problematic characteristics of psychology being a science (Link)

Evidence
Scientific approach is reductionist as it aims to identify single variable, breaks down complex ideas individually such as schizophrenia only being caused by dopamine overproduction alone

Strength/ support
RD Laing states that reductionist explanations missed important elements of schizophrenia factors such as family relationships explanations like double bind and dysfunctional families proposal by Bateson being dismissed. A range of theories will be rejected reducing applicability of psychology
(Link)

Weakness/contradiction
However, through having one explanation of schizophrenia like the biological explanation allows antipsychotic drugs to be produces due to identification of dopamine. Lawrie argued antipsychotic drugs revolutionised scare of schizophrenia as it was incurable before, required asylum. Therefore had huge impact in society. (Link)

Conclusion
Therefore can be argued that adopting a reductionist view has helped improve the lives of people with schizophrenia however costs individuals who do not have the same cause of onset of schizophrenia as it’s not holistic, not effective for everyone, psychology as a discipline should have explanation for all behaviours (Link)

Question 4

Changing nature of science

Answer 4

Opening
Science as a disciple changing forever, ways in which human behaviour can explored has evolved and shifted to new scientific discoveries. Psychology has also change and adapted, become more scientific (Link)

Evidence
Most recent change in psychology has been adoption of Positive approach. Seligman, often referred as the founder of positive psychology describes it as scientific study of optimal human functioning that aims to promote factors that low individuals and communities to thrive. Aims to study wellbeing scientifically

Strength
Positive psychologists aim to study behaviour through direct observation and measurement rather than unfounded beliefs. Allows to differentiate between fact and mere beliefs. Advances in neuroscience allow researchers to objectively measure happiness. Wager et Al meta analysis, positive emotions found to more likely activate basal ganglia than negative emotions. (Link)

Weakness
Despite these new approaches becoming more scientific, also have become more nomothetic. Positive approach is nomothetic as it proposes a “one size fits all” philosophy. Minimises uniqueness of human beings by applying scientific methodology. (Link)

Conclusion
Therefore can be argued that although psychology has aimed to move with changing nature of science, it risks developing more nomothetic approaches to explaining human behaviour. Costs outweigh benefits as aim of psychology is to explain all causes of human behaviour. (Link)

Question 5

Methodologies

Answer 5

Opening
There have been a many benefits of scientific approaches within psychology (Link)

Evidence
Biological approach, cognitive approach and positive approach have used scientific methodologies within research. However approaches such as the psychodynamic approach are based on beliefs and theories not tested

Strength
Having scientific methodologies have many benefits, evident through Raine et Al study using brain scans to identify different brain functioning in murderers and non murderers. Revolutionary as it opened treatment for murderers. Also identified enlarged ventricles in the brains of schizophrenics compared to non schizophrenics. (Link)

Weakness
Although easy to write off Freudian theories due to inability to test concepts such as ID, ego and superego, others researchers have been able to verify some of Freud belief’s empirically. Solms used PET scans to highlight regions of brain that are active while dreaming. Rational parts are inactive but areas of memory very active, linked to Freud theory that ego suspended while ID is free. (Link)

Conclusion
Shows that both scientific and non scientific methodologies can produce valuable data and information (Link)