Please evaluate these claims in the new book, “The Unbuilt Bench” by sociologist David Peterson: "Although psychological experts inhabit many domains, they are the uncontested authority in few. And, unlike many scientific fields, psychological research has yielded relatively few technologies that are considered unambiguous successes. . . .
Rather than a history of technological success, the field has thrived on the basis of its promise. The promise of experimental psychology is not a concrete technology, method, or theory. It is not a scientific product. It is, instead, an idea which recurs in different guises throughout the landscape of modern life–the idea that human thought and behavior can and, thus, should be studied using the same experimental methods that have brought technological progress to the natural sciences. . . .Yet the staggering variety of psychological theories, tools, and methods invites another interpretation—a promise unfulfilled. . . ."
Hat Tip: https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/03/29/the-unbuilt-bench-experimental-psychology-on-the-verge-of-science/
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Hat Tip: https://statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/03/29/the-unbuilt-bench-experimental-psychology-on-the-verge-of-science/
Grok says:
Key Points
- Research suggests psychological experts are not uncontested authorities in many domains, sharing influence with other professionals like psychiatrists.
- It seems likely that psychology has fewer unambiguous technological successes compared to fields like medicine, with tools like teletherapy facing challenges.
- The evidence leans toward psychology thriving on the promise of using experimental methods from natural sciences to study human behavior.
- Studies indicate the variety of psychological theories and methods may suggest an unfulfilled promise, contributing to issues like the replication crisis.
Direct Answer
Understanding the Claims
David Peterson’s book The Unbuilt Bench makes several claims about psychology, and here’s a simple breakdown of whether they hold up based on current research as of April 2025.
David Peterson’s book The Unbuilt Bench makes several claims about psychology, and here’s a simple breakdown of whether they hold up based on current research as of April 2025.
Are Psychological Experts Uncontested Authorities?
No, they’re not. In areas like mental health, psychologists share authority with others, such as psychiatrists who can prescribe medication and social workers who offer community support. This means they’re not the only voices in the room, which aligns with Peterson’s claim.
No, they’re not. In areas like mental health, psychologists share authority with others, such as psychiatrists who can prescribe medication and social workers who offer community support. This means they’re not the only voices in the room, which aligns with Peterson’s claim.
Do They Have Many Technological Successes?
Not really. While psychology uses technology like teletherapy and AI, these aren’t seen as clear wins like vaccines in medicine. There are issues, like low completion rates for online therapy and privacy concerns, so Peterson’s point about fewer unambiguous successes seems fair.
Not really. While psychology uses technology like teletherapy and AI, these aren’t seen as clear wins like vaccines in medicine. There are issues, like low completion rates for online therapy and privacy concerns, so Peterson’s point about fewer unambiguous successes seems fair.
Is the Field Built on a Promise of Science?
Yes, it is. Psychology relies heavily on experimental methods, like lab studies, to understand behavior, similar to how natural sciences work. This supports Peterson’s idea that the field thrives on this promise.
Yes, it is. Psychology relies heavily on experimental methods, like lab studies, to understand behavior, similar to how natural sciences work. This supports Peterson’s idea that the field thrives on this promise.
Is the Promise Unfulfilled Due to Variety?
It seems so. With many theories—like behaviorism and cognitive psychology—there’s no single clear path, and this variety can lead to problems like the replication crisis, where studies don’t always repeat. This suggests the field’s big promise hasn’t fully delivered, backing Peterson’s claim.
It seems so. With many theories—like behaviorism and cognitive psychology—there’s no single clear path, and this variety can lead to problems like the replication crisis, where studies don’t always repeat. This suggests the field’s big promise hasn’t fully delivered, backing Peterson’s claim.
In short, these claims mostly hold up, but psychology is a complex field, and there’s ongoing debate about its progress.
Comprehensive Analysis of Claims from "The Unbuilt Bench" by David Peterson
This analysis evaluates the claims made in sociologist David Peterson’s book The Unbuilt Bench regarding the state of psychology as a field, particularly its authority, technological contributions, methodological promise, and theoretical coherence. The evaluation is based on extensive research conducted on 2025, drawing from academic sources, professional articles, and current trends to provide a thorough understanding for both general readers and those with a deeper interest in psychology.
Background and Context
Peterson’s claims focus on the perceived limitations of psychology, suggesting it lacks uncontested authority, has few technological successes, thrives on a promise of scientific rigor, and faces challenges due to the variety of its theories and methods. These claims are evaluated against the current state of the field, considering its integration with technology, its professional landscape, and ongoing debates like the replication crisis.
To address these, we first examined each claim individually, using web searches to gather relevant information from reputable sources. The analysis considers both supportive evidence and potential counterarguments, aiming to provide a balanced view.
Evaluation of Claim 1: Psychological Experts Are the Uncontested Authority in Few Domains
Peterson claims that psychological experts are not uncontested authorities in many domains they inhabit. This is supported by evidence showing that in mental health, psychologists share authority with other professionals. For instance, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) lists various mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychiatric nurses, each with distinct roles (NAMI: Types of Mental Health Professionals). Psychiatrists, as medical doctors, can prescribe medication, a role psychologists cannot fulfill, while social workers often focus on community-based interventions. UCLA’s medical school also distinguishes between psychologists and psychiatrists, noting psychiatrists’ authority in medical interventions (UCLA Medical School: Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist). This diversity indicates that psychologists are not the sole authorities, supporting Peterson’s claim.
Evaluation of Claim 2: Psychology Has Relatively Few Technologies That Are Considered Unambiguous Successes
Peterson asserts that psychology has relatively few technologies considered unambiguous successes compared to other scientific fields. Research shows that while psychology has integrated technology, such as teletherapy, mobile health apps, wearables, and AI-driven tools, these are not without limitations. A page from Alliant University highlights trends like teletherapy, which expanded post-COVID-19, with 67% of psychologists using hybrid models by 2023, and studies showing effectiveness comparable to in-person therapy (Psychology and Technology: Current Trends Shaping Our World). However, criticisms include low completion rates for autonomous interventions and potential negative effects, as noted in a Frontiers in Psychology article (The impact of digital technology on psychological treatments and their dissemination). For example, continuous psychopathology tracking may magnify rumination, and privacy concerns remain unaddressed. Compared to fields like medicine, with clear successes like vaccines, psychology’s technological applications are still evolving, supporting Peterson’s claim of fewer unambiguous successes.
Technology | Description | Success Metrics/Examples | Criticisms |
|---|---|---|---|
Teletherapy | Expanded since COVID-19, offers video conferencing for therapy. | 67% hybrid models by 2023, effective for anxiety/depression. | Low completion rates, hard to read body language via webcam. |
Mobile Health Apps | Monitor symptoms, encourage habits, offer support. | Feature trackers, reminders; wearables improve reporting. | Limited research on long-term efficacy, potential for dependency. |
AI-driven Therapeutic Tools | Chatbots assist in diagnoses, treatment recommendations. | Facilitate interventions for vulnerable populations. | Privacy concerns, lack of empathy compared to human therapists. |
Behavioral Analytics | Analyzes data for mental health trends, emergency planning. | Uses diverse data sources (notes, trials, wearables). | Data leak risks, challenges in evaluation. |
This table illustrates the technological advancements and their associated challenges, reinforcing the view that psychology’s successes are not as clear-cut as in other fields.
Evaluation of Claim 3: The Field Thrives on the Promise of Applying Experimental Methods from Natural Sciences
Peterson claims that psychology thrives on the promise of applying experimental methods from natural sciences to study human thought and behavior. This is supported by sources emphasizing experimental methods as central to psychology. Simply Psychology describes the experimental method as involving manipulation of variables to establish cause-and-effect, a hallmark of scientific rigor (Experimental Method In Psychology). Verywell Mind notes that experimentation remains the primary standard, with examples like studies on sleep deprivation and driving performance, aligning with natural science approaches (How the Experimental Method Works in Psychology). This promise of scientific study underpins psychology’s identity, supporting Peterson’s claim.
Evaluation of Claim 4: The Variety of Psychological Theories, Tools, and Methods Suggests a Promise Unfulfilled
Peterson suggests that the variety of psychological theories, tools, and methods invites an interpretation of a promise unfulfilled. This is backed by evidence from a PMC article (Theories and Explanations in Psychology), which discusses the lack of an institutionalized theoretical branch in psychology, unlike theoretical physics, leading to fragmented and conflicting evidence (Theories and Explanations in Psychology). The article notes the replication crisis, exacerbated by prioritizing empirical results over theory, with a need for more explanation-focused research. Another source, Research Methods in Psychology, categorizes theories by formality, scope, and approach, highlighting their wide variety, which can hinder progress (The Variety of Theories in Psychology). This variety, including behaviorism, psychoanalysis, and cognitive psychology, suggests that the field’s promise of providing clear, scientific explanations remains unfulfilled, supporting Peterson’s claim.
Comparative Analysis and Implications
To organize the findings, here’s a table summarizing the evaluation:
Claim | Evaluation | Supporting Evidence |
|---|---|---|
Psychological experts are uncontested authorities in few domains. | Accurate; share authority with psychiatrists, social workers, etc. | NAMI, UCLA medical school, diversity of mental health professionals. |
Psychology has few unambiguous technological successes compared to others. | Supported; technologies like teletherapy face challenges, not clear wins. | Alliant University, Frontiers in Psychology, criticisms of completion rates, privacy. |
Thrives on promise of experimental methods from natural sciences. | Accurate; experimental methods central, modeled after natural sciences. | Simply Psychology, Verywell Mind, emphasis on cause-and-effect studies. |
Variety of theories suggests a promise unfulfilled. | Supported; lack of theoretical cohesion, replication crisis. | PMC article, Research Methods in Psychology, variety leads to fragmentation. |
This table illustrates that Peterson’s claims are largely supported, with each backed by current research and professional discussions.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The claims in The Unbuilt Bench are well-supported by evidence as of April 2025, reflecting ongoing challenges in psychology, such as shared authority, limited technological successes, reliance on experimental promise, and theoretical fragmentation. For future research, psychology could focus on developing a more unified theoretical framework, addressing technological limitations, and enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration to fulfill its promise. This analysis underscores the complexity of the field, highlighting both its strengths and areas for improvement.
Key Citations
