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The Theory Crisis in Psychology: How to Move Forward.
Markus I Eronen1, Laura F Bringmann2
1Department of Theoretical Philosophy.
Summary
Psychology faces a persistent theory crisis due to the inherent difficulty in developing robust theories. Addressing challenges in identifying phenomena, ensuring construct validity, and establishing causality is key to advancing psychological science.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Philosophy of Science
Background:
- Psychology has faced a persistent theory crisis since 1978, with limited cumulative progress.
- Contemporary claims of a "theory crisis" highlight the need for enhanced theory-building efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and discuss the fundamental reasons behind the difficulty in developing strong psychological theories.
- To offer recommendations for overcoming the current theory crisis in psychology.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of the philosophy of science to understand theoretical development.
- Examination of challenges related to psychological phenomena, construct validity, and causal inference.
Main Results:
- Developing robust psychological theories is exceptionally challenging.
- Three primary obstacles identified: lack of constrained phenomena, construct validity issues, and difficulties in causal discovery.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the root causes of theory development difficulties is crucial for progress.
- Recommendations are provided to help psychology move beyond its theory crisis and foster cumulative science.
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