Is Psychology Potentially Dangerous?

If some people see psychology as merely common sense, others have a different concern - that it is becoming dangerously powerful. Is it an accident that astronomy is the oldest science and psychology the youngest? Exploring the external universe is one thing, but exploring our own inner universe seems even more dangerous and threatening. Might psychology be used to manipulate people?

Knowledge, like all power, can be used for good or evil.
Nuclear power has been used to light up cities - and to anihilate them. Persuasive power has been used to educate people - and to deceive them. The power of mind-altering drugs has been used to restore sanity - and to destroy it.

Although psychology does indeed have the power to deceive, its perpose is to enlighten. Every day, psychologists are exploring ways to enhance learning, creativity, and compassion. Psychology also speaks to many of our world's great problems -war, overpopulation, prejudice, family dysfunction, crime - all of which involve attitudes and behaviors. And psychology speaks to our deepest longings - for nourishment, for love, for happiness.

However, is it safe to allow for such a powerful tool to be exposed, and potentially abused, at a time in human history when violence, deception and destruction is ever so rampant?

- Discuss.

Of course psychology can give us great insight into our own minds, but I worry that more of it will be found out through opinions and theories than actual science. Already people use excuses in psychology and psychiatry to explain their problems. Someone can go to a shrink and complain for a few hours, and they'll get severe medication for 'chronic depression' or something like that. I can see how we could blame everything on a past experience or condition, it is already affecting the court system. Some of it may be legitimate, but I'm also worried about what it could turn into.

Yes. All the ways one may use psychology to treat someone may also be used to harm as well. For example, someone is claustrophobic. He gets a hypnotic session to be cured of it by suggestion. (That's psychology, isn't it? Correct me if I'm wrong.) Someone could use suggestion to spread lies, fear, madness, etc. And if psychologic drugs exist...I don't think I need to explain that one.

-Snoopy

used the wrong way, it can be extremely harmful. some people do use it for an excuse, particulary if they persieve themselves as different. but yet psychology can explain the workings of the mind, not explicitly, but in generalised terms. however that knowledge of thinking etc can also be mans biggest weapon, used for dominance and power. they say knowledge is a weapon, then perhaps knowing how the minds works, reactions, thinking etc can actually be a weapon in the wrong hands. funny thing is, it can also help alot of people to understand themselves, and can give them a sense of self security. its pretty much a catch 22 situation. its helpful and harmful, and whose to say what person is the wrong person to utilise it.