Is psychology a science? Summarize the various answers to this question reviewed in this chapter.
Psychology was very much in debate on whether it a science or an applied discipline. It continued quite long on different psychologist coming up with his or her own versions and statements. For example, James expressed his view by concluding that psychology is not a science but the upcoming hope for science.
Similarly, Heidbreder came out with her description after 40 years later. According to him, psychology is a science as it arouses curiosity penetrating various ways of nature, discovered through exploring, battering at barriers, groping through confusions.
She said that psychology is science, which is yet to come out with its own discovery. The discovery yet to be made means it has not given anything like atomic theory of chemistry, which explained various questions.
Later came Koch who said that psychology should be taken as a discipline, some of the concepts are scientific and some are not. He also referred psychologists as scientists. Kimble agreed with psychology being a unified science.
Therefore, looking at the views of these psychologists, one can conclude that psychology is a science discipline.