The Eugenic Legacy in Psychology and Psychiatry

David Pilgrim
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David Pilgrim: Mental Health Policy, University of Central Lancashire, UK, dpilgrim@uclan.ac.uk

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2008, vol. 54, issue 3, 272-284

Abstract: Background: Assumptions about genetic differences in human mental characteristics can be traced in large part to the eugenic movement, ascendant at the turn of the 20th century. Material: This paper offers historical case studies, of `innate general cognitive ability' and `psychiatric genetics', in order to appraise the eugenic legacy in current psychology and psychiatry. Discussion: Reviewing the work of representatives, Cyril Burt, Franz Kallmann and Eliot Slater, along with their research networks, it is argued that eugenics remains a quiet but powerful background influence in modern-day psychology and psychiatry. Conclusion: At the turn of the 21st century, eugenics remains an important area of inquiry, reflection and education for those in the inter-disciplinary field of social psychiatry.

Keywords: eugenics; innate general cognitive ability; psychiatric genetics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:54:y:2008:i:3:p:272-284

DOI: 10.1177/0020764008090282

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