Psychology as a historical science? Theoretical assumptions, methodological considerations, and potential pitfalls
Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-324491
- The current condition of (Western) academic psychology can be criticized for various reasons. In the past years, many debates have been centered around the so-called “replication crisis” and the “WEIRD people problem”. However, one aspect which has received relatively little attention is the fact that psychological research is typically limited to currently living individuals, while the psychology of the past remains unexplored. We find that more research in the field of historical psychology is required to capture both the similarities andThe current condition of (Western) academic psychology can be criticized for various reasons. In the past years, many debates have been centered around the so-called “replication crisis” and the “WEIRD people problem”. However, one aspect which has received relatively little attention is the fact that psychological research is typically limited to currently living individuals, while the psychology of the past remains unexplored. We find that more research in the field of historical psychology is required to capture both the similarities and differences between psychological mechanisms both then and now. We begin by outlining the potential benefits of understanding psychology also as a historical science and explore these benefits using the example of stress. Finally, we consider methodological, ideological, and practical pitfalls, which could endanger the attempt to direct more attention toward cross-temporal variation. Nevertheless, we suggest that historical psychology would contribute to making academic psychology a truly universal endeavor that explores the psychology of all humans.…
Author: | Fabian HutmacherORCiD, Roland Mayrhofer |
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URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-324491 |
Document Type: | Journal article |
Faculties: | Fakultät für Humanwissenschaften (Philos., Psycho., Erziehungs- u. Gesell.-Wissensch.) / Institut Mensch - Computer - Medien |
Language: | English |
Parent Title (English): | Current Psychology |
ISSN: | 1046-1310 |
Year of Completion: | 2023 |
Volume: | 42 |
Issue: | 22 |
Pagenumber: | 18507-18514 |
Source: | Current Psychology (2023) 42:22, 18507-18514 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03030-0 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03030-0 |
Dewey Decimal Classification: | 1 Philosophie und Psychologie / 15 Psychologie / 150 Psychologie |
Tag: | historical psychology; history of psychology; methodological pluralism; replication crisis |
Release Date: | 2024/02/29 |
Licence (German): | CC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung 4.0 International |