Is psychology a fake science and can it be applied as one?

Written By Raphaele-ka Kon

Edited By Moka Higashino

Psychology is considered a social science. It examines the many parts that make up human consciousness, our choices, and how we behave in response to our environment. Because it is the study of the human mind it relies on indirect measurements and theories to determine if certain factors affect human emotion and behavior. Some question whether psychology should be considered a science because of its lack of scientific credibility and the subject it studies: humans. We as humans are very irrational and do not automatically all respond to the environment the same way, which can make it hard to determine a single explanation and hypothesis for a behavioral pattern. In our differences as a species, there are also similarities that contradict the idea that humans can not be measured. Although human behavior varies between individuals, it has limits. As a society, people share certain patterns, social norms and laws that allow societies to function and progress. These shared patterns suggest that human behavior can be measured and studied scientifically. This debate in theory could go on forever, but the reality is that psychology is applied as a social science all around the world and is used to treat people, and understand why they behave certain ways. People use it all the time to manipulate how others perceive them and to acquire certain responses. Does this mean that it doesn't have flaws and works the same for everyone? No, there are still confounding factors that can skew the validity and the notion that individuals react differently. This is why there are many different theories. One of those theories that uses natural science to explain human behavior is the biological theory (Cunningham).

Biological psychology is the study of behavior based on the mind-body phenomenon that defines concepts of psychology as how an individual's biological traits and predispositions determine how they will behave (Cunningham). It looks at genetics, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other biological processes to explain how we think, behave, and form memories (Hove and Martinez). This psychological theory is put into practice by medical professionals such as psychiatrists who are authorized to prescribe medication that impacts respirators and hormones, which can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric disorders. Biological psychology is not only used to manage mental health symptoms, but all promote positive responses. For people who have gone through traumatic experiences, biological psychology can investigate the root of fear and joy to promote it in association with a person's trauma. Things like attractiveness and social bonding can be explained through the biological theory (Hove and Martinez) because, evolutionarily, humans needed to be strong and healthy to survive. This means that a woman looking to mate is looking for traits such as good gut health, which will help the offspring survive and other physical features. The good health of a person can be determined through a person's pheromones and how they smell. The female sense of smell is heightened specifically to choose a mate that will create an offspring that has a strong immune system and gut health. This is directly relatable to the biological approach because of your major histocompatibility complex (MHC), our group of genes that code for proteins that helps identify harmful pathogens and other tissues that are alien to yours. These proteins can also be detected through pheromones that can impact how likely you are to be attracted to a person. This psychological theory does come without its limitations and shortcomings. The idea that females have a keen sense of smell to mate with men can be perceived as quite biased because it only believes that women choose their sexual partners and men don’t really care, which is not true in the 21st century. It completely dismisses different sexual orientations and excludes 7 to 10 percent of the world population, which doesn't seem to be that big until you take into account that there are 8.3 billion people, which means that 6 hundred million to 9 hundred million people are not taken into account of how their behavior is shaped by the biological explanation of attractiveness.

The biological theory of psychology still has a long way to go to be applicable as a general rule and explanation, but so do other theories of psychology that overlap with each other because of clear behavior patterns across a wide range of environments, biological and social factors. Even with its limitations, like any natural science, psychology is largely a science because it uses controlled experiments that already determines scientific theories such as biological reason for depression which has been tested and determined to have an important role in treating patients with depression and anxiety. It often uses empirical data and scientific methods to investigate theories. For these many reasons, and the fact that it has been shown to be an effective way to help people and improve productivity in workplaces, help with developmental difficulties, and many other positive uses, psychology is perceived and applied as a science and should continue to be, as it will help widen the understanding of human behavior as a field of science.

Works Cited

Hove, Michael, and Steven A. Martinez. Biological Psychology [Revised Edition]. Rotel Project, August 2024, https://rotel.pressbooks.pub/biologicalpsychology/. Accessed 13 Sept. 2026.

Lotha, Gloria, and John M. Cunningham. "Biological Psychology." Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 July 2020, https://www.britannica.com/science/biological-psychology/additional-info#history. Accessed 13 Sept. 2026.