Unifying Psychology Requires New Infrastructure, Theory, Method, and a Research Agenda

Abstract

Conduct of a long-term research program with a focus on constructing an overarching, unified theory of psychology revealed characteristics of psychology as a science that (a) encourage disunity of its endeavors and (b) impede attaining the unification and consequent power attained by older natural sciences. Considered a “would-be science” because of its disunity, psychology lacks knowledge of theory, theory methodology, and theory needs with respect to changing from a disunified to unified science, as well as the infrastructure needed for this fundamentally important change. These are critical and general deficits. This analysis outlines key developments necessary for psychology to begin its advancement to the powerful unification characteristics of advanced science.