(no subject)
I just had a really interesting participant in my study. He came in quite cheerfully and filled out the surveys, then told me that while his class only required three hours of research participation, he had taken part in six. Not to be a keener, but rather because he didn't see psychology as a legitimate science and wanted to experience our so-called 'research' for himself.
I really respect that.
Psychology ISN'T that great as a science. I honestly don't consider myself a psychologist. I'm a behaviorist- one who greatly respects the professionals that have come before, but one who sees the domain as it is now in a rather poor light. People like Zimbardo, Seligman, and Milgram are the ones I admire. They tried their damnedest to approach the field as carefully and as scientifically as they could- even quite cold in their methods. But their results were, on the whole, abused and misconstrued by the public and even by their colleagues.
Now Skinner, and to a slightly lesser degree Watson- those guys changed the world. Whether or not anyone knows or accepts it yet, heh. But their discoveries can be APPLIED. They aren't just ideas floating around in the collective consciousness. We're scientists, damn it, not philosophers.
I hope my participant finds what he's looking for and doesn't disparage ALL fields of psychology. Though frankly, with the evidence stacked against us by the 'social' sciences, I wouldn't blame him if he did.
I really respect that.
Psychology ISN'T that great as a science. I honestly don't consider myself a psychologist. I'm a behaviorist- one who greatly respects the professionals that have come before, but one who sees the domain as it is now in a rather poor light. People like Zimbardo, Seligman, and Milgram are the ones I admire. They tried their damnedest to approach the field as carefully and as scientifically as they could- even quite cold in their methods. But their results were, on the whole, abused and misconstrued by the public and even by their colleagues.
Now Skinner, and to a slightly lesser degree Watson- those guys changed the world. Whether or not anyone knows or accepts it yet, heh. But their discoveries can be APPLIED. They aren't just ideas floating around in the collective consciousness. We're scientists, damn it, not philosophers.
I hope my participant finds what he's looking for and doesn't disparage ALL fields of psychology. Though frankly, with the evidence stacked against us by the 'social' sciences, I wouldn't blame him if he did.