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Major Issues/Themes in Psychology. Questions about the nature of psychology What is a science? Is Psychology a science? What is Psychology? Study of behavior? Study of mind? Can psychology study the mind and still be a science? Is mind reducible to behavior or brain physiology?
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Major Issues/Themes in Psychology • Questions about the nature of psychology • What is a science? • Is Psychology a science? • What is Psychology? • Study of behavior? • Study of mind? • Can psychology study the mind and still be a science? • Is mind reducible to behavior or brain physiology? • Can there be an objective psychology of mind?
Ontological Questions • How have psychologists described the nature of the world and human beings? • What does it mean to be a person? • Are human beings determined as are other natural phenomena? • Do humans have free will? • Is the individual the proper object of study for psychology?
Epistemological Questions • What knowledge can we have of the world? • Can we assume our knowledge is a reflection of an objective reality or is it more a subjective or socially determined reality?
Methodological Questions • What methods have psychologists used in their investigations of the world? • Are some methods more appropriate than others? • What is the scientific method? • Is the scientific method the only viable method for psychology? Is the room for introspection?
Values Questions: • Should psychologists have an agenda for change? • Is the goal of psychology to do good?