Negative perceptions of psychology: The reflection of an identity crisis

This study examined critical attitudes toward psychology, developing and using the Attitude toward Psychology scale and examining philosophical differences reflected in the Epistemic Differential (Humanistic and Scientific approaches). Attitudes toward psychology in general were examined as were attitudes toward psychology as a science and attitude toward psychotherapy. This study examined the responses from 310 subjects in four groups. Graduate psychology students, graduate English students, undergraduate non psychology majors and undergraduate psychology majors. Major was found to influence subjects global attitudes toward psychology. Graduate students were more critical of the scientific basis of psychology than undergraduates but not of psychotherapy. When attitude toward psychology was controlled for openness using the NEO-PI scale, major and graduate versus undergraduate status were found to influence global attitudes. Philosophical preferences were only predictive of attitudes toward psychology for psychology graduate students. Sex differences were also examined and women were found to be more humanistic than men and less critical of both the scientific approach to psychology and of psychotherapy. Religiosity was examined and no effects were noted.