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Discover›Philosophy & belief
Contents
Robert Yerkes
Psychologist

Robert Yerkes

Famoose for

Developing comparative psychology and large-scale intelligence testing.

The Dancing Mouse · Yerkes–Dodson research

Born
26 May 1876
Birthplace
Bucks County
Died
3 February 1956

More people

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Robert Yerkes

Robert Yerkes was an American psychologist and primate researcher. His contributions to behavioural science were accompanied by support for eugenics and racially biased interpretations of intelligence tests.

Early life

Education

Grew up on a Pennsylvania farm, attended Ursinus College and earned a Harvard psychology doctorate in 1902.

Career

  1. 1902 onward

    Harvard teaching

    Taught comparative psychology and conducted research.

  2. 1907

    First book

    Published The Dancing Mouse.

  3. 1917

    APA presidency

    Led the American Psychological Association and organised military testing.

Selected work

The Dancing Mouse

Studied animal behaviour.

Yerkes–Dodson research

Investigated the relationship between stimulation and learning.

Army testing

Helped develop group intelligence tests for recruits.

Beyond work

Eugenics

Used culturally biased test results to support discriminatory arguments about immigration and inherited intelligence.

Sources & photo creditBiography and career ↗Biographical references ↗

Original photograph. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.

Photo: http://www.psychegames.com/robert-yerkes.htm. CC BY-SA 4.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.