PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS Philosophical Ends to Scientific
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PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS Philosophical Ends to Scientific Means: Diagnosis and the Epistemology of Psychology by Christopher Michael Johnson B.A., University of Maine at Farmington, 2013 M.S., Antioch University New England, 2016 DISSERTATION Submitted in partial fulfillment for the degree of Doctor of Psychology in the Department of Clinical Psychology at Antioch University New England, 2018 Keene, New Hampshire PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS ii Department of Clinical Psychology DISSERTATION COMMITTEE PAGE The undersigned have examined the dissertation entitled: PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS TO SCIENTIFIC MEANS: DIAGNOSIS AND THE EPISTEMOLOGY OF PSYCHOLOGY presented on September 13, 2018 by Christopher Michael Johnson Candidate for the degree of Doctor of Psychology and hereby certify that it is accepted*. Dissertation Committee Chairperson: Roger L. Peterson, PhD, ABPP Dissertation Committee members: Lorraine Mangione, PhD E. Porter Eagan, PsyD Accepted by the Department of Clinical Psychology Chairperson Lorraine Mangione, PhD on 9/13/18 * Signatures are on file with the Registrar’s Office at Antioch University New England PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS Acknowledgements This project would not have been completed without the invaluable efforts of meaningful others, who have invested themselves in my development as a professional and as an individual. First, I would like to thank my dissertation committee for becoming invested in my research and showing genuine curiosity in my work, even during those moments when my own interest was on a moratorium. I would especially like to thank my dissertation chair, Dr. Roger Peterson, for providing the space for the ideas in this document to grow, ripen, and blossom into a significant work in my academic career. Without the many doctoral seminar hours of opportunity to ponder ideas, stumble over quandaries, and ultimately go at my own pace, this paper would not have become what it is. I would also like to provide a brief recognition of the efforts of my intern cohort members at Georgia State University, Emily Newbury and Abi Nicholas, for being next door as I was working my way through some of the most challenging portions of this paper. You provided me with a space to commiserate over difficulties, and with expertise on a variety of dissertation topics. This project would be far from what it is without the loving support of my family, who have dared to wonder about my dissertation topic, even though they realistically may not have had much idea what I was talking about. Naturally, their support goes far beyond the reaches of this PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS iv paper, and extends to every corner of my life. I would not even be in the position to have written this paper without their unfailing emotional, financial, and psychological support throughout the entire course of my graduate school experience. Lastly, and most significantly, I would not be where I am without my loving wife, Kate. You have been there throughout the entire course of my college life, and witnessed the ups and downs of a challenging and tumultuous venture into psychology and my doctoral program. You are remarkably dedicated to my interests, and have shown an unbelievable amount of steadfastness through each of the trials we have been through. You have also been willing to tolerate each of the sacrifices (big and small) I have needed to make along my academic adventure, while being willing to grow and expand our little family along the way. I am forever grateful for these gifts. PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS v Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................1 Depression Statistics and Study Overview ..................................................................................2 Literature Review....................................................................................................................7 Brief History of Psychology ..............................................................................................7 Freud, Witmer, and the Origins of Psychotherapeutic Practice .........................................12 Watson, Skinner, and the Behaviorist Focus on Objectivity .............................................15 Carl Rogers, Empathy, and a Rejection of Environmental Power .....................................17 Aaron Beck and the Cognitive Revolution ........................................................................18 History of Depression .............................................................................................................20 Key Concepts ..........................................................................................................................27 Mental Disorder .................................................................................................................27 Social Constructionism ......................................................................................................29 Application to Clinical Psychology ........................................................................................32 Intersection with Social Justice ..........................................................................................33 Method .........................................................................................................................................35 Study Design ...........................................................................................................................35 Participants ..............................................................................................................................35 Measure ...................................................................................................................................37 Procedure ................................................................................................................................37 Statistical Analysis ..................................................................................................................38 Results ..........................................................................................................................................41 Descriptive Statistics ...............................................................................................................41 PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS vi Race & Gender ...................................................................................................................41 Age, Sexual Orientation, & Relationship Status ................................................................41 Educational Experience, Specialty Track of Training, & Graduation ...............................42 Theoretical Orientation ......................................................................................................43 Hypothesis 1a ..........................................................................................................................43 Hypothesis 1b..........................................................................................................................45 Hypothesis 2............................................................................................................................47 Hypothesis 3............................................................................................................................50 Hypothesis 4............................................................................................................................52 Hypothesis 5............................................................................................................................53 Limitations, Discussion, and Suggestions for Future Research ...................................................54 Limitations ..............................................................................................................................54 Discussion ...............................................................................................................................57 Suggestions for Future Research ............................................................................................64 References ....................................................................................................................................67 Appendix A: Recruitment Letter .................................................................................................76 Appendix B: Informed Consent ...................................................................................................77 Appendix C: Survey .....................................................................................................................79 PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS vii List of Tables Table 1 .........................................................................................................................................84 Table 2 .........................................................................................................................................86 Table 3 .........................................................................................................................................87 PHILOSOPHICAL ENDS viii List of Figures Figure 1 ........................................................................................................................................88 Figure 2 ........................................................................................................................................89