Is Psychoanalysis Unscientific?

Examination 2 Short Answers #1

There is a claim that psychoanalysis fails at the fourth stage of the standard scientific method model because there has not been any significant accumulation of knowledge for the theory since it was introduced. It seems that nothing has progressed, and as such, one could state that since there has not been any advancements, psychoanalysis is simply unscientific.

Thomas Kuhn, a philosopher of science, however, believes that this view of science is not accurate. He wrote an article titled: The Structure of Scientific Revolution that made an argument that science does not progress in a linear fashion in regards to knowledge, but rather science has two different forms of scientific knowledge accumulation. Paradigms are the “king” in the realm of scientific inquiry. These are wordily held theories that are at the forefront of science that everyone believes. When scientists encounter anomalies that cannot be explained by these universally accepted paradigms a new paradigm is brought into focus and “revolutionary science” occurs. These “paradigm shifts” abruptly transform that given scientific field and new theories start developing. This results in a rapid increase of knowledge for that given field. The Capricious revolution is a great example of this type of science. The prior paradigm in the scientific community was that the earth was flat, but then a revolution occurred and a new paradigm emerged – that the earth was in-fact, round.

Revolutionary science, however, does not occur all the time. Before a revolution can occur, scientists conduct routine tests and experiments within the commonly held paradigm. This state of puzzle-solving is known as “normal science.” When the scientist carries out...

... middle of paper ...

...der (or NPD). If You peer in the DSM you find nine symptoms that are common for someone with this disorder, but the individual only needs five to be labeled as having this illness. Some of these criteria make you ponder, take for example: “requires excessive admiration”, “shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes”, “is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her” and “is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love” can be applied to “normal” people as well. Who has ever had some or all these thoughts at one point in time? I am pretty certain that everyone has. Does that make you ill? It appears that some mental disorders are used to push morals and norms into society. If one does not show such norms they are considered sick and need to be treated so that they will conform to these norms.