RE 150A Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Ulric Neisser, Turing Machine, Anthropomorphism
28 Jul 2020
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Document Summary
Task 6 from thinking animals to behaviourism. Perception of psychology in the usa at the beginning of 20th century. The expansion of psychology around the start of 20th century: by 1900 there were already 41 psychology labs in the usa, two journals dominated the field: In 1892, american psychological association (apa) was founded forum for psychology researchers: american journal of psychology; founded 1887, psychological review; founded in 1894. The first american psychology: functionalism: psychology was shaped by expectations & preoccupation of american society, esp. Darwin"s evolutionary theory: eugenics: social philosophy claiming that the fate of a nation can be improved by selective breeding of the inhabitants; had strong impact in usa. Gradually usa became influenced by negative eugenics preventing reproduction of people with undesirable features: general belief that human characteristics & achievements depend not only on inheritance but on environment as well. Psychology & its position within universities: most psychology labs were set up within philosophical or theological institutes.
