Article
ID: CBB013057393

Theoretical Psychology at the University of Alberta as Social Science During the Cold War (2019)

unapi
Social sciences Psychology 20th century, late Alberta, Canada University of Alberta (Canada)

We examine the University of Alberta’s Center for Advanced Study in Theoretical Psychology (1965–1990) in the context of social science conducted during the Cold War. We begin by considering the center with respect to three important properties of social science at this time: an emphasis on interdisciplinarity, a focus on theory, and a preference for quantitative methods. Our analysis suggests that center activities also exhibited these characteristics. They were highly interdisciplinary, they were concerned with the development of psychological theory, and center members were experts in a variety of formal, mathematical, or statistical techniques. We then discuss the center in relation to a subdomain of research known as Cold War social science, which also was interdisciplinary, theoretical and quantitative, but in addition focused on research that contributed to national security against the rise of communism. Center members also believed that their research had social implications, but these were related to a humanistic psychology that served as a positive social force, and diverged from typical Cold War applications. We end by considering the center as an example of a different kind of Cold War science that emerged from a unique set of contextual influences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: journal abstract)

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Authors & Contributors
Fontaine, Philippe
James Nikopoulos
Åsa Andersson
Susanne Schmidt
Baker, Bernadette M.
Frumer, Yulia
Journals
History of Psychology
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
Scientia Canadensis: Journal of the History of Canadian Science, Technology, and Medicine
Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences
Isis: International Review Devoted to the History of Science and Its Cultural Influences
History of the Human Sciences
Publishers
Cambridge University Press
University of Calgary (Canada)
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
Palgrave Macmillan
ENS Editions
Concepts
Psychology
Social sciences
Sociology
Historiography
Discipline formation
Economics
People
Sheehy, Gail
Ishiguro, Hiroshi
Nishimura, Makoto
Mori, Masahiro
Miller, James Grier
Kendler, Howard H.
Time Periods
20th century, late
21st century
20th century
20th century, early
Places
Alberta, Canada
United States
Canada
Québec (Canada)
North America
Japan
Institutions
University of Alberta
University of Chicago
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