In short: When considering whether parts of psychology are pseudoscientific, it is worth remembering that psychology as a whole conforms to scientific assumptions much better than many other fields commonly considered (without dispute) to be 'sciences'.

1. PS409
Psychology, Science,
& Pseudoscience
Dr Brian Hughes
School of Psychology
brian.hughes@nuigalway.ie @b_m_hughes

2. Are psychologists
pseudoscientific?

3. Question:
Is psychology a science?

4. Reminder: What is science?
Science = “any system of knowledge that is concerned with the physical world and
its phenomena and that entails unbiased observations and systematic
experimentation” (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Science = “1. the systematic observation of natural events and conditions in order
to discover facts about them and to formulate laws and principles based on these
facts. 2. the organized body of knowledge that is derived from such observations
and that can be verified or tested by further investigation”
(Academic Press Dict. of Science &Technology)
Features of Principle Features of Practice
Science Science
Valorises falsifiability Publication of data
Peer review
Accuracy in measurement
Argument “ad rem”
Unproven as false = unproven
Empirical evidence
Emphasis on refutation
Appeals to reductionism
Prioritization of parsimony
Acceptance of paradigms
Burden on claimant, not critic Shared endeavour

5. Examples of Pseudoscience
The unsubtle…
Flat-earth theories
UFO-ology
Astrology
Clairvoyance
Telepathy
Extrasensory perception [ESP]
Psychokinesis “The facts are
simple. The earth is
Quantum healing flat”
Crystal therapy

6. Examples of Pseudoscience
…and the subtle?
Biological reductionism in
gender research
Assumptions of “normality”
Folk assumptions in
mainstream psychology
(e.g., social support theory)
Nurture (as opposed to
nature)
Psychoanalysis?
Psychotherapy as a whole?

8. HOT! NOT!
Physics Chemistry Psychology
Empirical
Yes Yes Yes
falsifiability
Parsimony of
Yes Yes Most of the time
theory
Experimental
Yes Yes To an extent
control
Measurement
Yes Yes Kind of
accuracy
Facilitates
Yes Yes A bit
prediction

9. HOT! NOT!
Psychology Meteorology Astrophysics
Empirical
Yes Yes Kind of
falsifiability
Parsimony of
Most of the time Not really Yes
theory
Experimental
To an extent No No
control
Measurement
Kind of Kind of Within limits
accuracy
Facilitates
A bit A bit Who knows?
prediction

10. HOT! NOT!
Psychology Palaeontology Botany
Empirical
Yes No No
falsifiability
Parsimony of
Most of the time Hard to say Not a priority
theory
Experimental
To an extent No No
control
Measurement Patchy track
Kind of Within limits
accuracy record
Facilitates
A bit Not a priority Not a priority
prediction

11. HOT! NOT!
Psychology UFOlogy Astrology
Empirical
Yes Absolutely none Absolutely none
falsifiability
Parsimony of The antithesis of
Most of the time Not at all
theory parsimony
Experimental
To an extent Err, nope No attempt
control
Measurement Track record of
Kind of Not a priority
accuracy utter failure
Facilitates
A bit Not a priority Afraid not!
prediction

12. PS409
Psychology, Science,
& Pseudoscience
Dr Brian Hughes
School of Psychology
brian.hughes@nuigalway.ie @b_m_hughes