Henry L. Minton

J. F. Brown's Social Psychology of the 1930s A Historical Antecedent to the Contemporary Crisis in Social Psychology

It is argued that the crisis in social psychology over the past decade has historical roots in J. F. Browns social psychology of the 1930s. Browns approach was based on an integration of Lewin, Marx, and Freud, and is seen as especially relevant to current suggestions to reconstruct the discipline in terms of understanding social behavior in its political, ideological, and historical context. An evaluation of Browns contribution is considered within the context of the 1930s and within the contemporary context.

Kimball Young's Social Psychology A Precursor of Social Constructionism

Kimball Young in his graduate education was exposed to two diametrically opposed scientific worldviews. He received his M.A. in sociology under W. I. Thomas and his Ph.D. in psychology under Lewis M. Terman. His interest was in social psychology as reflected by his doctoral study on racial differences in intelligence. His initial commitment to Thomass position of cultural relativity was superseded by his adoption of Termans perspective of biological determinism. However, once he forged his own career as a social psychologist, Young recanted the hereditarian views he had voiced in his dissertation. Implications about the development and current status of American social psychology are drawn from Youngs conceptual shifts.

SOCIAL CLASS, RACE AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' BELIEF IN PERSONAL CONTROL

The relationships between internal-external control and social class and race were studied for two groups of junior high school students. Significant differences were found on internal-external control between schools but not for social class or race. Economic and cultural differences between schools were examined.