Main difference between lay people and psychologists

The main difference between lay people and psychologists is concerned with the method they use to produce and develop their knowledge. Ordinary people tend to make generalizations on mental life and behaviour based on their own personal experience or that of people who are close to them. In some cases, lay people may even accept the view of others on faith, in the absence of any critical examination. Moreover, they tend to cling rigidly to their convictions, regardless of possible counter-examples. On the contrary, psychologists use the scientific method.

Cited from EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN AND STATISTICS
FOR PSYCHOLOGY © 2006 by Fabio Sani and John Todman
BLACKWELL PUBLISHING