Psuedopsychology vs the Scientific Method

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Recommended: Science, non science and pseudoscience

Humans have inhabited the Earth for thousands of years and it is perceived by many that we are among the most intellectual species on this planet. Although having lived on this planet for so long, being able to distinguish fact from fiction has escaped the minds of many. People of today’s society are easily influenced by what is told to them instead of what can be proven. Believing in something that has no scientific evidence is not only absurd but can be classified simply as ignorance. Many of the erratic ideas that are believed by many today have originated in a time where superstition was more popular than science. These beliefs appear to be proven by science, but in reality are not valid and frequently confused with true psychology, this is called pseudoscience or psuedopyschology. These beliefs remain intact for many years primarily because those who choose to believe these psuedopyschologies are the ones who try to prove that they are in fact valid, and tend to ignore the evidence that proves them wrong. In order to properly extricate the truth from the fallacies of psuedopsychology the scientific method can be used as a tool. The scientific method is a form of critical thinking based on a careful collection of evidence, accurate description and measurement, precise definition, controlled observation, and repeatable results (Jackson, 2008). This method is composed of 6 bodies: 1. Make Observations; 2. Defining a Problem; 3. Proposing a Hypothesis; 4. Gathering evidence/Test Hypothesis; 5. Interpret/Analyze Data and Draw Conclusions; 6.Publishing Results, many scientist retest their experiment for more accurate results. The scientific method and many other similar techniques have been used for thousands o... ... middle of paper ... ...oach. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning/Wadsworth Jokinem, Anniina The Great Fire of London in 1966 In. Luminarian: Encyclopedia Project Oct. 26, 2001 Retrieved Mar. 15, 2011 Web. www.luminarian.org/encyclopedia/greatfire.tmn Fields, Ashley Moving to Rochester In. The Fox Sisters Mar. 2001 retrieved Feb. 2011 Web. http://spider.georgetowncollege.edu/htallant/courses/his338/students/afields/webpage/fox_sisters.htm Fierro, P.P. (2011) Do twins have ESP? In. Twin Telepathy Retrieved April 2, 2011 Web. http://multiples.about.com/od/funfacts/a/twintelepathy.htm McCann, Maurice William Lilly’s Prediction of the Fire of London In. Skyscript Feb. 1990 Retrieved Mar. 15, 2011 Web. http://www.skyscript.co.uk/fire.html Wood, J. M., Nezworski, M. T., Lilienfeld, S.O., & Garb, H.N. (2003). The Rorschach Inkblot test, fortune tellers, and the cold reading. Skeptical Inquirer,

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