01/26/2024

How Psychology Has Changed Our Minds

Not everyone is satisfied with how psychologists are doing their jobs

How does the mind work? How can we explain consciousness, development, memory, language, rationality, emotions, racism, kindness and hatred—the most important and intimate aspects of ourselves?

Solving these mysteries is the business of experimental psychology, the field to which I have devoted my life. But not everyone is satisfied with how we're doing our job. Some feel that psychology isn't scientific enough in its approach and believe that the real answers are going to come from studies of the brain. Out with psychology; in with neuroscience! Others reject a scientific approach altogether and seek answers from mystics, self-help celebrities and internet gurus.

This skepticism is understandable. Our field is going through a replication crisis, as many of our best-known findings have failed to hold up. And, like any field, progress in psychology can be slow, and the answers we give are often tentative and qualified.

Please select this link to read the complete article from TIME.