Wilhelm Wundt, behaviorism, and cognitive psychology evolution

¶ … psychology, it has intended to be a branch of the sciences. For it to be considered science, psychology must not hypothesize without testing. It is unfortunate that the history of psychology is marked with failed hypothesis. For it to be ethical, it has to draw conclusions after a formal laboratory experiment with stringent protocol instead of retrospective studies that result from past occurrences.

Science share basic procedures and expectations, it tests theories and get results, those results can be tested by others and achieve the same results, this is a challenge with psychology. For instance, normal therapeutic treatments involve research, diagnosis and treatment, but many results are scientifically indistinguishable. There is limited distinction between research and treatment.

There are issues that play a fundamental role in evaluation of psychological theories. First, is whether the theory adequately and formally describes the framework that accounts for observed psychological and other empirical data. Second, is whether the theory describes accurately a pattern that can be easily and directly interpreted by other theorists. Thirdly, is investigating whether the theory is logical and it consistently fits into other theories to make a coherent whole. The theory need to be consistent with theories in other subjects. Fourth, it has to be constructed in a way that important tests can be done, which could result in rejection of the theory. Fifth, the theory needs to give genuine interpretation of existing results. Sixth, the theory should be as simple as possible. Seventh, the theory should be a new theory and not restatement of an existing one. Eighth, the theory should apply a wide range of phenomenon and not restricted to a particular domain. Ninth, the theory should have applied implications; ideal scientific theories are beneficial to the society as a whole. Lastly, the theory should make claims about the construction of mind that appears logical when exposed to environmental occurrences that have shaped our dynamic history.

There are psychological perspectives that meet the accepted requirements of scientific methods, issues and content that can be investigated as psychological and scientific. First, psychoanalysis is fully able to understand behavior, though critics accuse it of failing to predict future occurrences. Kline (1984) argues that this theory can be segmented into testable hypothesis and done scientifically. Second, behaviorism applies certain principles to outline a wide range of behavior. It has a tough perspective such as determination from the environment.

This theory can be used to predict human as well as animal behavior, Skinner (1948) in this books talks about a society that is guided by behaviorist principles. Third, Cognitive psychology, which uses a scientific approach to mental occurrences that cannot be observed. It performs experiments on behavior to confirm or discard results by advancing precise models.

In contrast with other ways of explaining human and animal experiences and behavior, psychology tries to explain individuals' mental processes and behavior. This subject is primarily concerned with engagement of mental occurrences and behavior on a systemic level.

Psychology is inseparable from other sciences. Psychology encompasses neuroscience, ethology, biochemistry and paleontology.

"On the other hand, there is not a single natural phenomenon that may not, from a different point-of-view, become an object of psychology. A stone, a plant, a tone, a ray of light, are, as natural phenomena, objects of mineralogy, botany, physics, etc.; but in so far as they arouse in us ideas, they are at the same time objects of psychology" (Wundt, 1897).

Wilson (1998), gives psychology prominence among other sciences. He claims that psychology is the connection that holds science, arts and humanities establishing a network of knowledge.

Psychological theories should be subjected to the outlined measures so as to determine which one to take seriously and which to abandon. However, psychologists test theories using null hypothesis. Some psychologists criticize the use of null hypothesis testing in psychology (Rozeboom, 1960). Although it is continually critisized, there is minimal change in the practice of statistics. After formulation of a theory, a null hypothesis is established, which specifically predict the expected results.