The Hole
There is a hole in Psychology. It operates without an official central theory that explains the motivation behind human decisions and behavior.
Sigmund Freud proffered the first comprehensive theory of human nature, but it is too voluminous to be correct. It also is incomplete and has obvious flaws.
However, despite its flaws, Freud's ideas are generally regarded as a starting point from which to work.
Note: As we shall see, this leap of faith has had enormous consequences.
After decades of searching in vain for the missing theory in Psychology, the American Psychological Association (the APA) and its 150,000 member psychologists quietly have come to believe a succinct yet comprehensive theory explaining human nature is not likely to be discovered.
Although no official announcement to that effect has been made public, most psychologists believe the human brain is too vast and too complex to allow practitioners to summarize human beings in simple terms. One prominent psychologist summed up the dilemma psychologists are facing this way:
“The many competing motivations amid a myriad of unnatural social roles and obligations peculiar only to the human experience, in combination with exceptional mental capability and dexterity, culminates in endless potential responses that make human beings near impossible to understand and define.”
Without an official theory from which to work, psychologists have little choice but to select the more attractive features of the various failed models of human nature (theories of personality), and then personalize their theory by adding a few ideas or routines or exercises of their own.
The hodgepodge theories put forth by practicing psychologists vary from practitioner to practitioner, and thus the reason why they disagree among themselves regarding the motivation behind human decisions and behavior.
Note: The many conflicting theories of human nature that coexist today means practicing psychologists are guessing while feigning expertise.
That psychologists are conspicuously absent from any discussion regarding how to resolve America's social problems is proof they do not understand human nature.