Psychology: Reason or Excuse

As human beings we seek to understand. We want to explain why someone is the way that he/she is. We want to explain actions or in-action. So, in an effort to understand, we study it. We observe. We test. We observe again. Then the findings are revealed to the world. Psychology at its finest. Just for kicks below are two definitions of psychology. The first is from Merriam Webster and the second is taken from the Glossary of Psychological Terms located on the American Psychological Association website. 

Psychology: Science or study of the mind and behavior

Psychology: Scientific study of the behavior of individuals and their mental processes 

Essentially, both definitions boil down to the study of the mind and behavior. Psychology has helped society in so many ways by revealing how we think. It attaches the reason we seek to the problem or situation that we do not understand. We have come far as a society because we have learned so much about ourselves. However, as I look at the world today I have come to question the usage of what we have learned. Has psychology become an excuse for our behavior rather than a general explanation?

To begin this discussion let's imagine a baby around the age of five to six months. According to child development the child will be able to pick things up and will take thing straight to their mouths. Psychology studied and studied this and found this to be a major milestone and many parents look for as their child develops. When the child gets to this age, parents began child proofing cabinets and making sure there are no small objects lying around that can be ingested. We know that the child will put everything in his/her mouth and we try to prevent accidents. We know because of psychology that the child does this to learn what an object taste like or the texture of it. It can also be a sign of a baby teething and the items provide comfort.

Now lets move forward, the child is now 11 to 12 months and has picked up the habit of throwing things and biting people. Just like putting objects into his or her mouth throwing and biting are signs of development. However, there is no underlying reason for why a child does these things. You often hear people say “oh he is just a baby and he doesn't know any better.” or “that is what children her age does.” Yes, this is a point of development but does that mean we should let this behavior go forward? Psychology tells us infants go through this stage but does that provide a valid reason to excuse the behavior?

Psychology provides scientific evidence on how the brain works. It provides logic and reasoning to what we do not understand. Psychology does not tell us how to use the information that we are given. Has the information provided to us been misused, misunderstood, or misrepresented? Has providing an excuse become all that we use psychological discoveries for?

To be continued.......