What is the paradigm in psychology and sociology?

The concept of "paradigm" was first introduced into the philosophy of science by the positivist G. Bergman, but became widely known after the publication of T. Kuhn's scientific and philosophical works. He proposed his view of scientific revolutions as a paradigm shift - some initial conceptual and theoretical schemes that dominate science in a certain historical period. So what is the paradigm in science? This term refers to the aggregate integrity of scientific beliefs, values and research methodology that are accepted by the scientific community.

Psychological view on the concept of "paradigm". Identifying different approaches

As applied to the science of the psyche and the patterns of its manifestation, three approaches have been formed regarding the answer to the question: "What is the paradigm in psychology?".

The first approach is that this natural science is a pre-paradigmatic area of knowledge, since the scientific paradigm in it has not yet developed.

Within the framework of the second approach, psychology is considered a multi-paradigm science, since it has formed several paradigms - psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic, cognitivistic and others.

The third approach is characterized by the fact that psychology is considered an extra paradigm science, because the concept of a "paradigm" is generally inapplicable in this sphere.

Humanitarian and natural-scientific paradigms in psychology

The well-known German scholar V. Dilthey divided psychology into an explanatory, more inclined to the methods of exact sciences, and descriptive or understanding. This view of the two types of this science is relevant to this day.

The methods and methods of cognition of the human psyche are actively discussed in psychology, and this problem does not have any unequivocal solution. Describing this situation, B. Bratus wrote that a psychologist often has to hear, especially from representatives of the exact sciences, that psychology is not a science, since it has no exact laws, strictly scientific methods of investigation. However, on the other hand, as soon as psychologists begin to get involved in mathematical methods of describing mental processes, strive for clear formalization, claims already arise in the humanities - say, the human psyche is so complex that it can not be formalized. The same situation we can observe in psychology itself.

Opponents of the scientistic approach as an example lead psychoanalysis. As the famous Kizhi were built without a single nail, so the building of the psychoanalytic trend in psychology was built without a single mathematical sign. The discussions of supporters of these approaches continue to this day.

The concept of a paradigm in sociology

To understand what a paradigm is in sociology, one should know that the situation with respect to the concept of "paradigm" in this science is similar to that described above. Since in sociology there are a number of fundamental theories, then, like psychology, it can be attributed to a "multiparadigmal" science, that is, to a scientific discipline that has several paradigms. Assessing its current state, the well-known sociologist G.V. Osipov notes a number of basic schemes that are based on the well-known theories of E. Durkheim, K. Marx, B. Skinner, M. Weber.

A slightly different answer to the question: "What is the paradigm?" Can be found in foreign sociological literature. For example, E. Giddens as a paradigm examines the scientific theories of K. Marx, O. Comte, E. Durkheim, M. Weber. Along with this, we can talk not about a large number of paradigms in sociology, but only about two - classical and modern. Many foreign sociologists say that in connection with the rapidly changing nature of the present era, it is no longer possible to explain social processes with the help of theoretical constructs of scientists of past centuries. Therefore, a new sociological paradigm should replace the picture of social reality created by them, their ideas about the society.