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originally posted in: AMA about the field of Psychology!
9/14/2016 6:56:59 PM
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1. Do you think psychology has enough rigour to be considered a science, or is it simply based on subjective opinion? 2. If you believe psychology is scientific, do you believe psychiatry is more or less scientifically rigorous (especially in the treatment of disorders)? 3. Do you [all/some] believe psychological issues are merely the manifestation of underlying biological/neurological catalysts? 4. Can psychiatrists replace psychotherapists?
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  • [quote]1. Do you think psychology has enough rigour to be considered a science, or is it simply based on subjective opinion?[/quote] There are certainly theories that come down to one's own subjective opinion when interpreting data. However, psychology has become much more rigorous and structured in the past half a century. But again, it depends what theories you are looking at. Behaviorists, like Skinner, throw out all things subjective and focus only on things that can be tested. While this has brought structure to the psychological field, we do not have to capabilities to test everything about the human mind, so parts need to stay an educated hypothesis. In the last decade however, psychology has began to make a push towards biological and neurological approaches, as we have explored the brain with finer detail with new technology. [quote]2. If you believe psychology is scientific, do you believe psychiatry is more or less scientifically rigorous (especially in the treatment of disorders)?[/quote] While I do not always agree with pumping meds in a patient, psychiatrists follow the scientific method. Looking at past behavior, family history, symptoms, etc, a psychiatrist makes an educated hypothesis about the correct medication/ behavioral intervention to ease the symptoms. If the medication/treatment has negative/no effect, the experiment starts over with a new diagnosis/new medication. [quote]3. Do you [all/some] believe psychological issues are merely the manifestation of underlying biological/neurological catalysts?[/quote] This is difficult to answer. While I believe all that we are (consciousness, cognition, etc) is housed in the brain, not everything is so black and white. For example, if a healthy person is abused, they can experience ptsd, depression, etc. Did something change about their physiology or...? This is not exactly my field in psych, so I hope I answered that sufficiently. [quote]4. Can psychiatrists replace psychotherapists?[/quote] I believe both are still needed. I hope I answered your questions well enough. As I said, these questions are not really within my area of study. My focus is on abnormal psychology, mainly antisocial disorders, pedophilia, and psychology within criminal justice and the legal system.

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  • [quote]For example, if a healthy person is abused, they can experience ptsd, depression, etc. Did something change about their physiology or...?[/quote]My understanding of the answer to this question is yes. In the case of traumas and anxiety disorders, it is a neurological issue wherein the amygdala remains active in situations when it should not, thereby manifesting symptoms of panic; hyperarousal, hypervigilance, etc... When something like that occurs, it seems to me that the appropriate professional to treat the person would be a psychiatrist. A psychotherapist would merely be trying to treat the symptoms of a root-problem. Hence my next question about whether psychiatrists could replace psychotherapists ;).

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  • Very good point. I'd still have to say though, without the ability to perfectly diagnose and treat with the proper medication and dosage, psychiatrists can never fully fix a disorder. But maybe this stems from my own dislike of medication after being made into a slow zombie for months after a foolish psychiatrist pumped me with improper medication. We all have our biases. I do believe that therapists or forms of mediation can help you work through the problems and fix the brain yourself. In my own case, the mindfulness technique and daily mediation have relieved most of my symptoms with no medication. But I understand that medication that fixes the imbalances in the brain is really the only full fix, it's just that the field is not refined enough to be the only option at this current time in my opinion.

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  • Yay! A smart person on Offtopic! It always brings me such joy.

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  • 👍👌

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