Introduction to Psychology As a Human Science

Book excerpt: Introduction to Psychology as a Human Science gathers together the disparate pieces of the story of psychology as a human science and places this story into the broader history of science in general. The book explains how psychology as a human science is linked to, but distinctly different from, psychology as a natural science. Students first learn how science, knowledge, and truth have been framed since antiquity. Once they have become familiar with these concepts, they are ready to examine the development of science through the ages and see how psychology drew from this development. They study the approaches of Freud and psychoanalysis, as well as existential, humanistic, and transpersonal psychology. The book also includes a chapter on social constructionism, and concludes by revisiting some of its framing questions, such as how best to study human beings, and what it may mean to characterize psychology as a science. Introduction to Psychology as a Human Science responds to three linked questions. How does each of the approaches view human beings? What are the scientific assumptions of each approach, given their view of human beings? What are the scientific methods and procedures through which each approach gathers knowledge? Intelligent and thought-provoking, the text is a unique choice for introductory psychology courses including those that emphasize research methods.