Is Psychology a Science? This paper aims to discuss the differences between the natural sciences and social sciences. It further discusses the discipline of psychology as a science and as a discipline under the social sciences.

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Is Psychology a Science?

Social Sciences arose under certain conditions which made the science of the social possible. We recognize its connections with modernity, the rise of the modern state and its need for establishing techniques of governance, the development of science, the awakening of a global consciousness, the possibility of the global market and the like. Given these conditions, we then come to a particular understanding of “the social” which has in turn influenced the development of the various disciplines. In spite of the advantages that the social sciences give, it is always subject to debate whether it is inferior with reference to the natural sciences. Some scholars even regard this as “underdeveloped” science. Apart from this debate, the discipline of psychology has been subject to debate as well. Should psychology be included in social sciences or natural sciences? Psychology concerns mainly how the human mind works and how does it affect the human behavior. There are institutions that label this discipline under the natural sciences because it is associated with physiology because of the involvement of human brain and nervous system. On the other hand, some labeled psychology as social science because it deals with human and how he interacts with his society. Psychology gone different changes and has shifted in different paradigms. One of the major branches that it holds is critical psychology. This paper aims to discuss the differences between the natural sciences and social sciences. It further discusses the discipline of psychology as a science and as a discipline under the social sciences.

Natural sciences are defined as “disciplines that deal not only with natural events (i.e., independent and dependent variables in nature) using scientific methods.” This serves as an umbrella discipline to other disciplines such as Biology, Mathematics,

Physics, Chemistry, Physiology and the like. Some scholars regard this discipline as exact and mature science because disciplines under natural sciences use one common language and methodology. On the other hand, Social Sciences can be defined as a discipline “concerned with the analysis of human groups, collectivities and communities.” This discipline can be well understood if one extract and examine the word “social” attached. The word “social” mainly concerns with human, societal institutions and the interaction of both entities. Among disciplines that can be found in the Social Sciences are Sociology, Economics, History, Philosophy and Anthropology. The discipline of Psychology is still debatable since some scholars regard this as under the Natural Sciences. Later on, it will be explained why and how did this debate start.

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Natural and Social sciences bear the term “science.” The most basic definition of science states that it is a systematized body of knowledge that uses scientific method in dealing with its problems and concerns. Both disciplines are compared and contrasted on different level of grounds such as invariability of observations, objectivity of observations and explanations, verifiability of hypotheses, exactness of findings, measurability of phenomena, constancy of numerical relationships, predictability of future events, distance from everyday experience, standards of admission and requirements.

While it is visible that these two disciplines greatly differ in many ways, they also have similarities. For example ...

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