DANCEST 303 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Spiritualism, Eugenics, Tabula Rasa
Document Summary
The perception of psychology in the usa at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1892 the american psychological association (apa) was founded, giving researcher a forum to meet and discuss their findings. By 1900 there were already 41 psychology laboratories. Darwin"s evolutionary theory had a strong influence in the usa and eventually even. Galton"s social philosophy of eugenics (=the fate of a nation can be improved by selective breeding of its inhabitants) At the same time the americans, being a country of immigrants, believed that human characteristics were also dependent on the environment. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the establishment of psychology laboratories was not easy and at many universities psychology always had the flavor of a wannabee science. = mental states are identified by what they do rather than by what they are made of was a popular view because they were not interested in abstract science but in practical accomplishments.
