Is psychology a science?

An issue that creates controversy: is psychology a science or not?

Is psychology Psychology a science? This question opens a debate that informs us about how much we do not really know about Psychology. There are many myths about psychology and the profession of psychologist, and a recurring theme within these topics is the question of whether this discipline can be considered a science or not.

Many people claim that psychology is not a science based on misconceptions about what a science really is. It is common in our society to believe the arguments of a doctor or a chemist, since we consider that their knowledge is specific and we do not possess it; however, the knowledge of psychology is sometimes annoying for many people. Why?

Because, perhaps, they do not want their own mental and emotional processes to be partially explained, but prefer to continue to preserve the mystery of human nature. human nature. Psychology does not try to uncover this mystery. It is simply, it is a science that tries to increase our knowledge about ourselves.. To find out if Psychology is really a science or not and to explain why, we must start with a simple question: What is a science?

What is a science?

For a field of knowledge to be a science, it must meet two basic factors:

1. Epistemology

In order to be considered a science, it is imperative that there be a clear clear epistemology. That is to say, that it is clearly known in which field we want to increase our knowledge.

Scientific method

Another necessary condition for a discipline of knowledge to be considered a science is that it must adhere to the scientific method. scientific method. This is where people who do not understand psychology get it wrong. These people do not really know the complexity of the scientific method, its advances, its nature and its variety. We must remember that a science is not an attempt to know the truth or to solve all the mysteries of nature and life, but simply a way (a method) of increasing our knowledge. Science asks questions, and for each question it answers, new questions are initiated, until for the original question we find another, more adequate answer, and so on infinitely.

So it is with physics (whose concepts are constantly changing). For example, although the laws of Isaac Newton are still being studied today. Isaac NewtonWe have known for a long time that they are not entirely true, since Albert Einstein's theory of relativity was able to question them correctly), with chemistry, with any natural or social science (it is more correct to speak of "natural sciences" rather than "pure sciences", since there are no sciences that are really purer than others). Physics reflects on the famous chaos theoryPhysics can supposedly predict that if you throw a billiard ball with a certain force and orientation, it will hit a certain target. But not all predictions are always fulfilled. Why? Because there are multiple unstudied variables, such as the millimeter-thickness of the mat, which causes the ball to gradually deviate from its predicted course until it enters a succession of unexpected events.

Does this mean that physics is not a science? No, it only means that there are no exact sciences, since sciences do not seek accuracy but to increase our knowledge. The only exact tool that exists is mathematics. A tool that, by the way, is used quite a lot and with success in Psychology.

What is psychology and is it a science?

Psychology is the science that studies human behavior and its cognitive processes and, therefore, has a clear epistemology. However, does psychology follow the scientific method? Does psychology follow the scientific method?

Experimental psychology follows the scientific method as much as physics or chemistry. Other disciplines, such as medicine, are not really sciences but disciplines, although they rely on scientific research to support their decisions. Psychology works in the same way: it is a science that sometimes acts as a science according to a scientific method to conduct research.At other times, it applies this knowledge in the best possible way to accompany people and societies in processes of change. In these applications, the results are observed and changes and reflection are assessed.

This is what any science would do. Remember that science first and foremost relies on a humble attitude, reflection, questions, questioning, openness... at no time does a science believe or aspire to have an absolute truth. absolute truth.

What is the scientific methodology used by psychology?

Since the human being is very complex and changes and evolves constantly, its study becomes very complex. For this reason Psychology has a great methodological diversity to study the human being. Psychology basically uses the hypothetical-deductive methodas any other science. Sometimes, because of the nature of his research, he uses quantitative methodologies (where he uses statistical tools), and sometimes he uses qualitative methodologies (interview, focus groups, etc.). The second case, in fact, can be much more complex than the first.

It is not the role of the researcher or psychologist to draw conclusions about reality, but rather to know how to extract facts that can be to know how to extract facts that can be contrasted and refuted through human experience.. In many universities around the world, experts in qualitative methodologies are still in demand, since their great depth, nature and complexity is largely unknown to the scientific world. Perhaps, because of this ignorance, many people are confused and consider that Psychology is not a science.

Working and researching on cognitive processes, memory, perception, thinking and its heuristics, emotions and their management, biophysiological bases, social structures and their impact on our behaviors, inter- and intrapersonal relationships, as well as group relationships, beliefs and attitudes, is complex and psychologists do it with great scientific rigor.

When there are bad results, it is mainly due to the partial interests of companies or organizations that finance certain research. There are errors in psychology, of courseand many psychologists work with little scientific rigor and quite irresponsibly... but as in all sciences. This does not transform psychology into what it is not. Psychology is, above all, a science, the science that perhaps has the most complex objective of all: to understand ourselves.