Historizing epistemology in psychology.
The conflict between the psychometric methodological framework and the particularities of human experiences reported in psychotherapeutic context led Michael Schwarz to raise the question whether psychology is based on a methodological error. I take this conflict as a heuristic tool for the reconstruction of the early history of psychology, which bears witness to similar epistemological conflicts, though the dominant historiography of psychology has largely forgotten alternative conceptions and their valuable insights into complexities of psychic phenomena. In order to work against the historical amnesia in psychology I suggest to look at cultural-historical contexts which decisively shaped epistemological choices in psychology. Instead of keeping epistemology and history of psychology separate, which nurtures individualism and naturalism in psychology, I argue for historizing epistemology and for historical psychology. From such a historically reflected perspective psychology in contemporary world can be approached more critically.
Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Psychology, University of Belgrade, Čika Ljubina 18-20, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia. gjovanov@f.bg.ac.rs
Gordana
G
Jovanović
D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality / Q000266:history; D019359:Knowledge; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history; D011584:Psychology / Q000266:history*