Gray (2008) notes that psychology fits neatly in the middle of nearly every academic discipline. The figure below shows how Gray places psychology in a central position with the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities arrayed around it. He adds, “It would be impossible for people from any other department to draw a diagram nearly as elegant as mine that put their discipline in the center.” (p.30) I agree. The centrality of psychology creates borders between it and many nearby disciplines. Four disciplines: sociology, biology, computer science, and philosophy have especially intimate borders with psychology. Over time those borders have moved as well. Those border realignments are historically important to understanding 21st century psychology.
Psychology's central position in the academy is probably one reason why psychology courses and the psychology major are so popular.
Gray, P. (2008). The value of Psychology 101 in liberal arts education: A psychocentric theory of the university.
Observer, 21(9), 29-32.
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