Pavlov would not be considered a "founder" of psychology by most psych
historiancs. Clearly the work of many Nobel holders is relevant to
psych, but whether they can be considered, or considered themselves as
psychologists is what I was wondering. Pavlov would roll over in his
grave at the thought. My point was NOT to look at the fact that
psychologists' history can easily lead to finer distinctions and
hair-splitting, but rather that the Nobel is not open to formal
recognition of psychological work. It was this I was pondering.
That psychologists are not conscientious in keeping their
identification as psychologists uppermost in the public eye, is another
tale with many motivations. I am dismayed when good psychological
research gets media attention but the researcher/s do not point out
their work is psychology, and their identification is as psychologist.
Regards, Gary Peterson
Claudia Stanny wrote:
>
> This is a difficult question. When we look at the history of psychology,
> how many founders were "psychologists?" When we examine the current trend
> of psychology blending with other disciplines such as neurosciences and
> computer science (re: the thread about the current state of psychology), we
> are faced with the same questions. Clearly, the research for which these
> individuals received their Nobel awards was directed at questions claimed
> by psychologists. This research is part of the core research for
> psychology as evidenced by the frequency with which it is cited in our
> textbooks. These individuals frequently work in psychology departments,
> present at psychology conferences, give colloquia for psychology
> departments, etc. I think we can claim them as psychologists even if their
> degree says physiology.
>
> By the way - the list of Nobel laureates includes that of our own dear
> founding father - I. P. Pavlov, although we do admit that the prize was
> awarded for his work on digestion rather than Classical Conditioning, per se.
>
> Claudia Stanny
>
> >
> > Except for Simon, how many of these folks are psychologists? I
> >believe Hubel and Weisel do not have degrees in psychology per se? And
> >of course, psychology proper I thought, was excluded from Nobel areas
> >considered? Gary Peterson
> >
> > G. Peterson
> > Saginaw Valley State University
> >
> >
> >
> >Tom Allaway wrote:
> >>
> >> I believe Simon's Nobel was for his work with decision theory,
> >> particularly the concept of "satisficing" r/t maximizing.
> >>
> >> Lorenz, Tinbergen and Von Frisch got the Nobel for work whose topic
> >> was certainly behavioral.
> >
>
> ________________________________________________________
>
> Claudia J. Stanny, Ph.D. e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Department of Psychology Phone: (850) 474 - 3163
> University of West Florida FAX: (850) 857 - 6060
> Pensacola, FL 32514 - 5751
>
> Web: http://www.uwf.edu/psych/stanny.html
