Journal Article Critique of 'an Empirical Analysis of Trends in Psychology'

As a result to concluding the chapter “How to Think Straight about Psychology” by Keith E. Stanovich, the infinite doors into Psychology have opened. I was immediately engaged into the history and conflicts between the continuity of previous and modern day psychology. It was astounding to find the amount of distaste, backed by modern psychologists, on the workings of Sigmund Freud, who I had recently thought to be the foundation to all psychology. However, after reading on about the diversity of psychology, it became apparent that the extensive amounts of subjects within the realm of this study, make it difficult for scientist and the overall population to agree on one unified idea. Psychology has criteria that is ever changing, but limited to the time period of discovery.

In the 1950’s the beginning stages of a revolution began in the field of psychology. Developments in Behavior therapy (BT) by J. Wolpe and others began challenging the non-scientific approach of psychoanalysis (Craske, 2012; Westbrook, Kennerley & Kirk, 2011). Freudian psychoanalysis had dominated psychological treatment since the nineteenth century until the 1950’s when scientific psychology began to question the practice of psychoanalysis because its effectiveness could not be validated by empirical evidence (Craske, 2012; Rachman, 2014; Westbrook et al., 2011)

Compare the Behaviourist and Psychodynamic approaches to Psychology in terms of theoretical assumptions and methodology.

However, Gauthier & Tarr and Diamond & Carey’s methodologies have come under much criticism especially from Robbins and McKone. Robbins and McKone argue that they have found major flaws in the expert hypothesis. The differing views of these psychologists are outlined in fiery academic exchanges (Robbins & McKone 2007), (McKone & Robbins, 2007), (Gauthier & Baukach, 2007). As a

Classic studies in psychology are not worthy of the term — all such studies are vastly over-rated. Discuss.

Myers, David G. Exploring Psychology. 6th ed. 1 vols. New York, NY: Worth Publishers, 2005.

However, there are drawbacks related to psychoanalytic model. Davey, G (2011) explains the shortcomings put forward by Erdelyi in 1992 that the central concepts in psychoanalytic are hard to define and measure objectively. Therefore it is difficult to conduct research on them to see if they are actually related to symptoms of psychopathology in the way Freud describes. On the other hand, Cognitive approach according to Davey, G (2011) has been successful in generating an influential approach to treatment. There have been studies, researches and experiments done to distinguish which approach is the better one. Some favour one over the other and others weigh both therapies equally. Such was the study in which psychoanalytic approach was compared with cognitive behavior therapy. It was a three year follow up study in which comparison was made in the treatment of patients with a primary diagnosis of unipolar depression. 100 patients were

(2013, August 13). Is psychology a “real” science? Does it really matter ... Retrieved October 20, 2016, from

Psychologists look inside the

In this paper I will discuss the impact that applied and behaviorist psychology has had on the field of psychology. J. R. Angell at the University of Chicago is possibly one of the most advanced of the functional psychologists, predicted that American psychology was prepared for better objectivity. In 1910, he stated that it is possible that the term consciousness would more than likely vanish from psychology, even more than the term soul had vanished (p. 209).

Burton, L., & Westen, D. (2012). Psychology (3rd Australian and New Zealand ed.). Milton, Qld.: John Wiley and Sons

Within the discipline of psychology, there are several perspectives used to describe, predict, and explain human behavior. The major perspectives in modern psychology identified in the text are neuroscience, cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic. Describe these major psychological perspectives using two to three sentences each. Type your response in the space below.

King, L.A. (2015). The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View. New York, NY: McGraw  Hill.

In assessing psychology’s public image, two dimensions are paramount in the issue: “popularity” (or how the public feels toward psychology and psychologists), and “understanding” (what the public knows about psychology and what psychologists do) (Benjamin, 1986, p. 945). While overall, psychologists are met with a moderately favorable attitude (Guest, 1948), several studies have revealed a deficiency in the knowledge of who psychologists are and what they do (Wood et al., 1986; Wollersheim & Walsh, 1993; Lent, 1990; Cialdini, 1997; Webb & Speer, 1986; Farberman, 1997). This deficiency is the driving force behind many of the negative misperceptions that the public holds, and one cannot help but spy the tendency of the public to doubt the mechanisms behind psychology, namely the science. Lilienfeld (2012) published an article titled “Public Skepticism of Psychology: Why Many People Perceive the Study of Human Behavior as Unscientific.” In this article, Lilienfeld suggests that, “the general public agrees with the soft science nomenclature that is frequently applied to psychology” (Munro & Munro, 2014, p.534). He lists six common criticisms of the scientific basis of psychology, some of which include: psychology does not use scientific methods, psychology cannot yield meaningful generalizations because everyone is unique, and psychology is not useful in to society. An addition criticism listed is that psychology as merely common sense (Janda, England, Lovejoy, & Drury, 1998;

Psychology is not just philosophical speculation and reasoning over the years it has evolved and it is now also recognised as a science, to understand what psychology is all about it is necessary to know it’s origins and the theorist who brought it out of obscurity, Sigmund Freud. He developed the Psychodynamic or Psychoanalytical perspective to enable better understanding of human behaviour these concepts will be discussed further later in this study. After Freud opened the gateway other perspectives and approaches have been developed, now with five main areas of psychology - Cognitive, Behaviourist, Biopsychology and Humanist approaches. For a comparison with the Psychodynamic theory, Behaviourist Theory will be discussed.