A minority of reviewers use anonymity as a way of criticising rival researchers who they perceive as having crossed them in the past. This is supported by the fact that many researchers are in competition for research funding.
Publication bias
Editors often want to publish headline articles and positive results to increase sales. This could mean that some research is ignored, creating a false impression of the current state of psychology.
Burying ground-breaking research
Reviewers tend to be critical of research that contradicts their own view. Findings that chime with current opinion are more likely to be passed than new research that challenges it.
