“Psychology should be based on empirical evidence and scientific methods” claimed the founder of its modern form, cognitive psychology.  Yet critics argue it's unknown whether psychology really has moved on from superstition lacking empirical support and scientific rigour. Nearly two-thirds of psychological studies aren’t replicable, while 90% of social psychology is based on self-report surveys. Moreover its replicability rate is often over 20% below those of the physical sciences, and many argue concepts like 'individual emotions', studied at length, are not universally applicable.

Should we accept that scientific principles will never be able to account for behaviour and experience that is fundamentally subjective, qualitative, and context-dependent? Or would giving up the idea that psychology is a science have profound consequences for society and ourselves? More radically, should we see psychology as functioning to serve cultural and political agendas, shaping norms rather than uncovering universal truths?

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