The Psychologist as an Expert in Behavior and Humanity: Proposing an Integrative Epistemology for Contemporary Psychology.

Abstract

This research examines the reconceptualization of the contemporary psychologist's role through an integrative epistemological approach that reconciles dual specialization in behavior and humanity. The analysis begins with the historical tension between explanation (erklären) and understanding (verstehen) in psychology, identifying how this epistemological dichotomy has systematically fragmented disciplinary identity. Through systematic review of phenomenological, existential, humanistic, transpersonal, and liberation traditions, we develop the Scientific-Humanistic Complementarity Principle (SHCP) as a theoretical framework for integrated psychological praxis. This construct presents transversal implications for academic training, empirical research, and professional intervention. Within the Latin American context, this proposal constitutes an epistemological vindication rooted in the Global South, oriented toward systematic articulation of scientific rigor with ethical understanding and human dignity. The resulting model seeks to establish scientifically rigorous psychology without compromising humanistic commitment, responding to contemporary complexity through preservation of technical rigor and existential depth.