Sociology of Psychology

A subfield of sociology that examines psychology as a social institution, including its professional structures, knowledge production practices, and cultural authority. It investigates how psychological theories are shaped by social contexts, how the discipline defines normalcy and deviance, how psychological expertise is deployed in law, education, and medicine, and how power relations within the field affect research agendas. The sociology of psychology treats psychology not as a pure science but as a social practice with its own hierarchies, gatekeeping mechanisms, and historical contingencies.

Example: “Her sociology of psychology research showed how the DSM’s diagnostic categories were shaped by insurance requirements and pharmaceutical marketing—not just clinical evidence.”

Sociology of Psychology by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal April 16, 2026