Personality and culture, the social science research council, and liberal social engineering: the advisory committee on personality and culture, 1930-1934

Date
2009
Authors
Dennis, B.
Advisor
Instructor
Source Title
Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences
Print ISSN
1520-6696
Electronic ISSN
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Volume
45
Issue
4
Pages
355 - 386
Language
English
Type
Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract

The field of personality and culture was given a significant impetus during the 1930s with the establishment of the Advisory Committee on Personality and Culture (1930-1934) by the Social Science Research Council. This committee provided an early formulation of personality and culture that emphasized the interdisciplinary focus on the processes of personality formation within small-scale social settings. The committee's formulation also coupled personality and culture with a liberal social engineering approach geared toward cultural reconstruction. Major social scientists and clinicians were involved in the activities of the committee, including Edward Sapir, W. I. Thomas, E. W. Burgess, E. A. Bott, Robert S. Woodworth, Harry Stack Sullivan, C. M. Hincks, and Adolf Meyer.

Course
Other identifiers
Book Title
Keywords
Advisory committee, Cultural anthropology, History, Social control, Social psychology, Social welfare, Sociology, Advisory Committees, Culture, History, 20th Century, Humans, Personality, Psychology, Social, Social Control, Formal, Social Sciences, Social Welfare
Citation
Published Version (Please cite this version)