Is Psychology an 'Abysmal' Science? A Review of Rewriting Psychology

Abstract

Ho (2019) have provided a useful constructive critique of why psychology has not succeeded in becoming a 'real science'. This review includes a summary of the main points David Ho states in his new book and moves further into the discussion of 'successful science'. The main content of the book is summarized in five issues: (1) Psychology immersed in peoples' lives, (2) Cognition: What makes humans human, (3) Education, (4) Madness, religion and spirituality, and (5) Psychology applied to enhance the quality of life. What follows, is further elaboration of three main themes: 'abysmal' science, the gap between theoretical and applied psychology, and the aim of psychology. In addition, this follows the discussion initiated by Zagaria et al. (Integrative Psychology and Behavioral Science, 54, 3, 2020) who suggest an evolutionary psychology as the most compelling approach in scientific psychology while adding to this discussion a suggestion of an artistic psychology. With the notion of artistic as integrated in scientific the discussion is enriched and the developmental focus suggested is awakened. By integrating art as the pathway to 'science' Vygotsky's notion of aesthetic synthesis is re-visited.

Keywords: Artistic psychology; Helpers’ science; Ho - Dialectics; Scientific psychology.