To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Famous Pro-Eugenic Researcher Manipulated His ResearchAlthough Gesell did not advocate eugenic sterilization, his article spoke to the discussion taking place in states over possible eugenic legislation. (Durham, NH)—A University of New Hampshire researcher has discovered that a former Yale professor who espoused pro-eugenic beliefs manipulated his research findings so he could conclude that his Wisconsin home town was overflowing with mentally and morally "unfit" people. Benjamin Harris, professor of psychology and affiliate professor of history at UNH, has found that Yale psychologist Arnold Gesell manipulated the photographic record by selectively choosing photos to make his pro-eugenic case in his piece "The Village of a Thousand Souls." Published in 1913 in "The American Magazine," the widely read article accused Gesell's hometown of Alma, Wisconsin, of being overrun with "hereditary defectives." Harris' discovery of Gesell's deception is detailed in the most recent issue of the journal History of Psychology, published by the American Psychological Association. In "The Village of a Thousand Souls," Gesell called for the observation and segregation of the "unfit" as a eugenic measure. Harris discovered that Gesell manipulated the photographic record to support his thesis, even substituting a photo of a different town because it showed a "saloon" sign that was lacking in Alma. Gesell's research relied on his father's collection of photographs documenting decades of life in Alma, Wisconsin. Gesell's father, Gerhard Gesell, owned a photo studio in the town for many years, and his collection included images of streets of respectable-looking buildings, parades of automobiles on those streets for holidays, and groups of children and adults enjoying everyday life in a riverside town. "What Gesell selected, however, were images selected to support his thesis that the town was degenerate," Harris said. For example, Gesell juxtaposed two photos. One shows a seeming tramp in front of a shack, identified as "Evidence of a Feeble Mind." The second photo is of a tidy frame house, well-kept yard, and four well-dressed people enjoying leisure time. The second photo is captioned "Evidence of a Vigorous Mind." Harris discovered that the first photograph alleging "evidence of a feeble mind" was actually a photo of one of Alma's early settlers, Abraham Schmocker, taken in the mid-1800s. "An alternate view of Schmocker also was available, showing him holding what appears to be a pet cat. That photo shows a bucket, washtub and washboard, making Schmocker seem to be taking care of himself. Because it's more of a close-up, one can also see more easily that it is a roughly made cabin—rather than a neglected house. But Arnold used the less humanizing photo and placed it next to one of a more urban family, taken 20 to 25 years later," Harris said. Moreover, the unidentified home in the second photo that purported to show "evidence of a vigorous mind" was apparently thought to be the Gesell house, which infuriated local residents. Read this article in its entirety at the source link provided.
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News End of Realtor Commission Model Poses Biggest 'Jolt' in Housing in 100 Years Finnish Study: 'Woke' People More Likely to be Unhappy, Anxious and Depressed.' No Kidding. New Film 'Epidemic of Fraud' Exposes Massive COVID Corruption Shameful Senator Schumer Provides Cover for Biden's Smears of Israel REGIME MEDIA: ABC World News Tonight Advances the Bloodbath Hoax Trudeau's Online Harms Bill Threatens Canadians' Basic Rights, Pro-freedom Group Warns Fifth Circuit Court Upholds Texas Age-Verification Law Restricting Porn Site Access Sickening: Kamala Harris Visits a Planned Parenthood Facility in Pro-Abortion Tour Tennessee House Passes Bill Requiring Fetal Development Video in Public Schools Elon Musk, Matt Walsh Highlight Study Showing Transgender Surgeries Double Risk of Suicide 'Justice Denied': Judge Rules That Fani Willis Can Continue to Prosecute Donald Trump West Point Removes 'Duty, Honor, Country' from Its Mission Statement Ghana's Parliament Passes Anti-'LGBTQ' Law NHS England: Children Will No Longer Receive Puberty Blockers Unless In Clinical Trials Search the Articles Archives |
All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.
Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.
Home | Store | Subscribe | Facebook | Article Archive |