Like many Christians, I have been suspicious of psychology, principally for the same reason that philosopher of science Karl Popper was: In its twentieth century incarnations, it was typically not falsifiable. For example, if you doubted that some Freudian theory was true, you were “defensive” about it, and therefore the theory must be true. If you had evidence that the theory was false, you were just obsessive about it, which meant that your efforts could not cast doubt on the theory. If you doubted behaviourism, that was because you had not been properly programmed to accept behaviourism. Well, as Popper said, a theory that cannot be falsified cannot be a part of science.
However, a number of hot twentieth-century theories in psychology have in fact made specific enough statements that they have indeed been falsified by research findings. (That is actually a virtue in science, by the way.) West Coast editor of Psychology Today Robert Epstein offers the “Loose Screw” awards to the top ten misguided ideas of the era. I am going to list some of them here and ask that we reflect on the extent to which well-meaning Christians have sometimes helped some of these ideas along:
1. “Nearly infallible” tests: Rorschach-type tests, where the subject is given an ambiguous cue like a muffled sound or an ink blot, were a staple of twentieth century psychology. The subject supposedly reveals deep secrets of the mind by stating what the ambiguous signal might mean. Acording to Epstein, these tests “rarely reveal information that can’t be obtained in other, more practical ways—like asking the client!” Why did psychologists feel that asking the client was a useless strategy? Did they want to shift the burden of dealing with a subject onto an object? It is unfortunate if Christians bought into this sort of thing. Shouldn’t our faith lead us to expect that person-to-person communication is more likely to provide answers?
2. Recovered memories: In the mid-1980s, under the influence of drugs, hypnosis, and dream interpretations, the patients of some therapists began to believe that they were victims of horrifying abuse, sometimes satanic abuse that included cannibalism and ritual murder. Following trials where all evidence seemed to support the prosecution, some people were falsely condemned to years in prison. Some even committed suicide. Eventually, it became clear that most of the allegations were planted during therapy. Researcher Elizabeth Loftus of the University of California, Irvine, demonstrated in a rigorous, scientific way that, contrary to grandiose claims that whatever emerges during therapy is “the truth,” memories can easily be planted by suggestion. Here, I fear that churches may have unintentionally played a role in supporting falsehoods. After all, many Christians sense the influence of dark powers in our lives. Perhaps it is too easy to believe that genuinely troubled people are victims of external satanic cults. We may be victims, rather, of powers within ourselves that we do not want to acknowledge.
3.-10. Dr. Epstein also red flags boot camps (they did not stop repeat offenses); self-esteem programs (feeling good does not necessarily cause people to do well); co-dependency theories (abandoning a substance abuser usually makes the problem worse); Mozart babies (Mozart was really smart, but he can’t make your baby smart); Kubler-Ross’s stages of dying (many patients do not go down her five-step path); rebirthing therapy (sometimes fatal); inevitable teen angst (the theory that teen angst is inevitable is based on an early idea about evolution that has not been substantiated); and catharsis theory (expressing pent-up anger tends to make you more angry, not less). None of these ideas has fared well in follow-up research, which attempted to reproduce the promising original findings—and failed.
Of course we want to believe that research will support the view of life that we believe is correct. But psychological theories are generally developed without reference to Christian ideas. So it is accidental if they support or don’t support Christian ideas. If we lean on them instead of on the Gospel, we exchange a sure guide for an uncertain one, at best. We ought better to trust in the Word, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12, NIV) If we can stand knowing who we really are, that is a surer path.
(Note: The article is free online here.
Also:
A very happy UN-Christmas to you from Borders - Richard Dawkins atheist Christmas card
New York Times spins elderly ex-atheist’s conversion - just senile!
Publisher braces for controversy with new ID-friendly text
A leftist critique of social Darwinism
Did you see where this surfer dude has solved the riddle of the universe?
Rate this post:
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
Stumble It!
Thom said,
November 19, 2007 at 9:09 pm
amfortas said,
However, the main aspects of Christianity that throw light on the human condition are aimed at ameliorating the worst aspects of human behaviour and thought rather than explaining them. Resorting to evil spirits inhabiting us is hardly a good enough insight and no better than proposing ‘repressed memories’ or Thetans.
There are some good ideas that have come from both Christianity and psychology, nevertheless. Cognitive Dissonance was a masterpiece. The revelation of our propensity to obey Authority was frightening. Forgiveness and unconditionally loving were great advances in human intercourse. Faith, of course is the real double-edged sword!
November 19, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Squiggy said,
As for you Amfortas, cognitive dissonance was described long before “psychology” was invented. I think it was the apostle Paul (I think) who said “For that which I would do, I do not. That which I would not, I do” (Romans 7:19). Sin causes us to be what we don’t want to be.
November 20, 2007 at 5:08 am
CaptDMO said,
next weeks revised Psychologist Desk Reference justifies the professional witness fees generated by forensic likelihood proclamations! (as long as the schools in ones bona fideCV-bwa ha ha ha ha ha- are cited as part of the record.
November 20, 2007 at 6:42 am
El Cid said,
The study of the id by the odd.
November 20, 2007 at 9:04 am
Free Man said,
Competent to Counsel - Jay Adams
The Cult Explosion - Dave Hunt
These two books have been a life-saver.
November 20, 2007 at 9:31 am
amfortas said,
Free Man, another great exposition of the female manipulation techniques can be found in the capital little book, “Games People Play’, by that very clear, concise and insightful shrink, Dr Eric Berne, MD. Every man should read it and understand.
November 20, 2007 at 6:25 pm
tom of covent garden said,
November 21, 2007 at 11:16 am
Squiggy said,
November 21, 2007 at 8:30 pm
mya1simpson said,
November 27, 2007 at 7:18 pm
mya1simpson said,
The arrogance of the fringes both left and right distresses me to no degree. It is hard to sit in the middle and watch this. I am sorry but I find you all to be very sad people, hateful sad people
November 27, 2007 at 7:38 pm