Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Perspectives on Neuroscience
Published on: July 31, 2007
The unification of psychology: a noble quest
1Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. lcalhnjr@email.uncc.edu
Abstract:
Henriques' effort to develop a unified theory for psychology represents a noble quest (this issue). Even if the quest fails, the effort itself may produce benefits for psychology. This article focuses first on some general comments on the unified theory, with some suggestions about elements that seem desirable in the theory and some elements that may benefit from further elaboration. A specific application to the area of posttraumatic growth suggests the theory is capable of providing a framework for understanding specific areas of human psychology. Finally, the potential future of the unified theory is considered with a focus on its potential as a "useful mass movement" in psychology.
Related Concept Videos
Defining Psychology
Gestalt Psychology
Freudian Psychology
Cognitivism
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
Humanistic Psychology
This approach...
Psychology as a Science
The scientific method in psychology involves six critical steps: making observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting tests, analyzing...

