Psychology_as_a_Science

Before I can answer this question I need to know the definition of science and then the definition of psychology. Psychology comes from the Greek words Psyche (Or soul) and Logos (the study of) which came to be known as the study of soul. The American Heritage dictionary defines psychology as the science dealing with the mind and with mental and emotional processes. All in all psychology is the scientific study of human, animal behavior and their mental processes. Science is described as the systematic knowledge derived from observation. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary defines Science as the intellectual and practical activity includes the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. The two definitions in laymen’s language;-The definition of psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. I looked at many different definitions of science and over all to me it’s definition can be determined as the knowledge someone gains through observation and or experimentation. An experiment is when something is not known so it is looked into a little deeper. People investigate the questions, solving problems, and provide evidence. Without experimenting, psychology wouldn’t be a science and it could be considered as a religion. Scientific study is a way of coming to an understanding and can be very useful in every area of life; it is evident that science examines each theory with rigorous and scrupulous tests to see if it describes reality. The scientific method works well in reaching and recording physical data and reaching conclusion which either or nullify a theory. There are many areas of psychology, each attempting to explain behavior from different perspectives; the behaviorists perspective believes that behavior is learned and selected by environmental consequences .Its method of data collection relies heavily on experimentation conducted in the scientific laboratory where the factors studied can be controlled. The cognitive perspective believes that behavior is a result of information processing, storage in the brain, transformation and the retrieval of information. The methods of data collection used are again experimentation but with much use of computer modeling. The evolutionary perspective believes that psychological processes influence the evolutionary processes of natural selection. Its method of data collection includes the deduction of explanations for behavior, and comparisons between species and cultures. It also involves a limited amount of experimentation. Psychological hypotheses are sought to wok to turn an abstract concept into a concrete argument. This hypothesis is framed, variables are used separately, a standard procedure is developed that is maintained throughout the experiment, results are tested and conclusions drawn. A very good example is that psychological association appointed Sigmund Koch to conduct a study, employing over eighty scholars in assessing the facts, hypothesis, and methods of psychology. In 1983, the results were published in a series entitled Psychology: A study of science. Psychology uses scientific observation to systematically answer question on human behavior. Wilhelm Wundt, known as the “Father of experimental psychology” was one of the first to set up a psychological laboratory to study the conscious experience. Wundt wondered what happened when us people experience a sensation whether it be vision, hearing, and tasting. As time progressed ideas on psychology grew. Without gathering accurate information and having question go unanswered due to the lack of suitable research method is were you can misunderstand the difference of psychology being a science or a religion' Psychologists have to be able to give an accurate description on the behavioral observations and although they can not answer why question on observation alone, they have to be able to understand why it is occurring and predict when it will occur and what controls this behavior. In my opinion, when it comes to psychology it is using facts to prove how people act or think. Psychology is a science because there are studies done and results that follow. It is something that will never be completely solved because there will always be questions and possible answers that must be thought out.