How can psychology be scientific when its main subject matter is people-can people really be studied scientifically?
The subject matter doesn’t define a discipline as being scientific; rather, the methods used to study the subject matter define a discipline as being so. In psychology, a premium is placed on the reliable and valid application of experimental and correlational procedures in the collection of behavioral data. So, yes, people can be studied scientifically. And so far, over a hundred years of psychological research has provided a valuable reservoir of scientific and practical knowledge about our species. From producing a thorough (though still incomplete) understanding of the basic operation of our nervous systems to exploring the depths of our intellects and personalities to producing treatments for mental disorders, scientific research in psychology has advanced our knowledge of human nature.
