2001/04/01 by Jack Martin, Jeff Sugarman · 1 citation
Psychology · #Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology #Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications #Social Representations and Identity
paper · doi:10.1177/0959354301112003
openalex publication_date 2001/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
During the past decade, a number of theoretical psychologists have argued that the subject matter of psychology is distinct from that of the physical sciences in ways that require interpretation as a method of inquiry. Rejecting what they regard as a mistaken scientism in the conduct of traditional psychological research, these hermeneutically inspired theorists also have been critical of what they regard as overly strong anti-realist, anti-subjectivist and relativistic aspects of postmodern social constructionism as it has been developed by some psychologists. In this article, we elaborate a distinction between natural and human kinds, summarize concerns that have been expressed with respect to Gergen's social constructionism, review recent attempts to develop a hermeneutically informed interpretative psychology, and highlight central features of this developing approach to psychological inquiry.