The Great Psychologist: Francis Galton - Assignment Example

? Psychology of Sir Francis Galton was born in England and was the half cousin of Charles Darwin, famous, for the evolution theory. Darwin’s contribution to modern day disciplines is immense particularly in the natural science division (Allen, 2002). Many psychologists, such as Lewis Terman, consider Darwin to have been gifted and talented (Forest, 1974), something he aimed to promote throughout his life, through his famous eugenics theory. Darwin remained ahead of his peers for instance, he was able to read and sign against his name at the age of three. It is notable that, Charles attended prestigious schools, where he excelled both theoretical and practically in the discovery world. Francis Galton was a myriad of professions, among them geneticist, psychologist, statistician, eugenicist and meteorologist. His first inventions and research in various fields, controversial have shaped many fields despite their controversial approach. Galton’s true passion, however, was studying variations in human ability (Clayes, 2001). The numerous publications Galton made evidence the real urge of educating and promoting a well informed population. According to the available primary sources, the first principal interest Galton expressed passionately was exploration, which prompted voyages to Africa and the Middle East. Galton did numerous observations and discoveries on natural sciences (Jeffrey, 2007). Galton observed the way of life of living things consequently these studies formed the fundamental basis of Galton’s exploration and study. It is noteworthy that, Galton was significantly touched by the backward way of Africans (Galton, 1908). This compelled to the publication of Galton’s first narrative, which focused on exploits in Africa. These efforts of researching on the fundamentals of Africa and its people led to award of a gold medal, by the royal geographic society for African exploration. However, not all people of African origin subscribed to his theory. Majority saw it as a path to demeaning the African race consequently it was disputed (Murray, 1853). The publication of Charles Darwin’s book, “The Origin of Species in 1859”, influenced further research and study on heredity and eugenics. Today, a person’s intelligence is measured by reasoning problem solving and analyzing. Similarly, Darwin asserts that, a person’s intelligence is inheritable. He came up with the phrase Eugenics, which mainly involves genetic improvement individually. The results he gathered led to wide publication on the improvement of the human stock. The question he sought to answer was whether a person’s intelligence was because of nurture or nature (Nelly, 2003). This was one of the numerous contributions to psychology, which continues to form the debate in many scientific debates worldwide. Some people view eugenics as expressing class prejudice consequently viewed as reactionary. Galton‘s main aim was to have a population made up of superior men and women with superior brain pattern. Galton collected numerous data using questionnaires on a sample of the population. This formed a vital contribution to the method of data collection used in leading scientific disciplines presently (Allen, 2002). The first experiments involved studies on the relatives of distinguished men and women in diverse professions such a law, medicine and sales people. Galton saw a possibility of there being more renowned men amid the relatives, than among the common population. Hypsometry applied in studying and researching (Forest, 1995). The data obtained, showed that the number of relatives dropped considerably when going from the first degree relatives, second degree relatives and to the third degree relatives. From these results, he was able to determine that abilities and talents were inherited. This historical theory, is not fully supported in the modern research, since there is evidence of children born out of less knowledge parents and there excel in most coveted professions These experiments had flaws, which prompted study comparisons in twins; fraternal and identical, who had either grown up in the same or different backgrounds (Gillham, 2011). From these experiments, coining of the phrase “nature versus nurture” was inevitable. The evidence from these studies favored nature to nature. Several experiments have been conducted to favor or disapprove the studies (Jeffrey, 2007). They are still in use today, including studies suggested by Galton, which include heredity and environment, which used adoption studies, which include interracial adoption studies. However, modern scientist do not wholly subscribe to this theory, owing to the fact that, it is lacks universality. Universality is fundamental for any theory to be fully accepted. Charles Gilton was a leading advocate of eugenic marriages by giving incentives to eminent families to have several children. According to (Galton, 1908) improvement of the biological make up of the human species through selective parenthood remained fundamental in ascertainment of this study (Irvine, 1986). It is vital to note that, Galton made a principal allegation about Africans being inferior to the other races, in mental and physical abilities especially the European race, continues to elicit different opinions worldwide (Irvine, 1986). In the course of the career, Galton collected numerous amounts of data from willing participants. Use of questionnaires was a primary boost to various fields, especially anthropology and psychology (Forest, 1974). This theory remains challengeable, because considerable evidence has linked the African race as being more intelligent compared to other races. The data collected was a lot, in that it could not be handled with the technology available at that time. Today these kinds of data can be analyzed because of the advanced technology capable of interpreting. The other key contribution to psychology was the first word –association tests (Jeffrey, 2007. As a geneticist, Galton founded the statistical approach to heredity presently commonly referred to as “biometric approach”. Galton disapproved “pangenesis” proposed by Darwin, which claimed heritable characteristics were transferred by body fluids such as blood, by conducting blood transfusions on rats, which purported otherwise (Allen, 2002). Galton argued that people should not be influenced by the environment, but should be given a chance to succeed in life, despite limitations put on the by their circumstances. As a differential psychologist, Galton carried extensive studies on psychological differences rather than common traits. Galton’s contribution in the science fields includes invention of correlation and regression, hereditary genius (Galley, 2011), behavior genetics through studying identical and fraternal twins, study of human traits into measurement of man. More over, Charles Galton made a key contribution to modern day forensics, by collecting data to support the point that all individuals have different fingerprints. This paved a new way in crime investigation. Furthermore, key field Galton shaped meteorology section. Galton pioneered the weather maps, which are crucial up to today. Cyclones were known to exist, but anti- cyclones were another aspect Galton had evidenced on, which shape weather patterns (Gillham, 2001). Besides serving on the meteorological committee, Galton devised several instruments for measuring weather, which are still in use today, although with improvements. In conclusion, Charles Galton came up with theories that still elicit reactions from both the scientific and public. Let us look on the theory that people born in eminent families, are more likely to be top achievers themselves, compared to those born in poor families (Watson, 1963). From a practical and open-minded point of view, studies have revealed production of better breeds from experiments carried out in the laboratories, and we have ended up with better animals, more beautiful and which can survive even harsh climatic conditions (Galton, 1909). Some people may argue that talent and opportunity have led people to achieve a lot in life, and become eminent people; It is evident that applies to a limited number in the general population (Galton, 1908). It is not substantial to conclude that a person born into a successful family; increases chances of success. We are at more advanced time technology, to ensuring that scientific studies such as human cloning are stepped up, to produce “better breeds” of the human species, just as it worked out in the animal kingdom. It is a vivid picture and belief that the great polymath of the Victorian times was devoted his time to reveal the pattern of human life in relation to the environment. Some of Dalton’s theories such as Africans being second grade maybe controversial, but this is a theory, which should make gear and stir the minds of people consequently prompting further research. This study reveals a sharp contrast between the historical thinking and way of appreciating theories and the modern theories based on substantial evidence and apt scrutiny, which excludes personal prejudice against the subject matter. (Allen G, 2002). References Allen, G. (2002). The Measure of a Victorian Polymath: Pulling Together the Strands Of Francis Galton’s Legacy to Modern Biology. Nature, 145(3). 19-20. Forest, D.W (1974) Francis Galton: The Life and Work of a Victorian Genius. New York: Paul Elek (Scientific Books) Ltd. Galton, F (1908). Memoirs of my Life. London: Methren &Co. Pearson, K. (1974). Life, Letters and Labors of Francis Galton. Cambridge University Press. Galley, F (2011). Hereditary Genius: An Inquiry into Laws and Consequences: Macmillan Fontana, London. Nelly, F (2003). Inquiries into Human Faculty and its Development. AMS Press, New York. Galton, F (1909). Memoirs of Life. New York: EP. Dutton &Company. Gillham, Wright (2011). A Life of Francis Galton: From African Exploration to the Birth of Eugenic. Oxford University Press. Jeffrey, F. (2007). Heredity Genius: An Inquiry into Its Laws and Consequences. London: Macmillan. Watson, Robert I, (1963).The Great Psychologist: From Aristotle to Freud. Philadelphia. Northeastern University. Read More