探析主流心理学追求自然科学化的原因

An Inquiry into the Reasons Mainstream Psychology Has Oriented Itself as a Natural Science

主流心理学采取自然科学的原理和方法论,试图将自己变成一门自然科学。作者从历史、社会、经济、时代精神、学科建制的背景下,分析了主流心理学选择自然科学取向的原因。这些原因包括:自然科学对主流心理学的历史性影响,自然科学具备成熟的方法论和有利的时代精神,自然科学的实践性优势,社会需求对自然科学取向心理学的促进,主流心理学研究者的心理因素,以及心理学研究对象的复杂性。

Mainstream psychology, characterized as constructivism, behaviourism, and cognitive psychology through history, has adopted the principles and methodologies of natural science, trying to adapt itself as one of the natural sciences. Although this orientation helped psychology become independent and developed, it also brought problems impeding further progress of psychology. This article, concerning the future development of psychology, inquires the reasons why mainstream psychology has oriented itself as a natural science, which include： the historical influences the natural science had on psychology, the mature methodology and preponderant zeitgeist that natural science enjoyed when modern psychology appeared, the practical advantages that natural science has to perfect itself, the promotion given to natural science by social development, the psychology of the psychologists, and the complicated nature of psychology＇s subject, six reasons in total. The aim of this article is to remind psychologists＇ awareness of the historical and social context in which psychology develops and being influenced, as well as of the responsibility psychologists undertake for the well being of psychology as a discipline, and of the whole society.