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SPSSI and Race Relations, in the 1950s and After
Author(s) -
Klineberg Otto
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of social issues
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 122
eISSN - 1540-4560
pISSN - 0022-4537
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-4560.1986.tb00870.x
Subject(s) - race (biology) , statement (logic) , sign (mathematics) , supreme court , phenomenon , connection (principal bundle) , convergence (economics) , political science , sociology , social psychology , law , psychology , epistemology , gender studies , engineering , mathematical analysis , philosophy , mathematics , structural engineering , economic growth , economics
SPSSI's activities in connection with the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education, particularly in the preparation of the social science statement submitted with the legal brief, represent a major contribution in the area of race relations in the United States. The background of this contribution is briefly recounted, together with some developments in the convergence between SPSSI and the APA. Special attention is given to Kenneth Clark's role in this connection. This is followed by comments on some recent, not always favorable, developments. One positive phenomenon in both race relations and international relations is nonpsychologists' increasing use of psychological concepts and research. This is regarded as a hopeful sign of an increasing influence of psychology and of SPSSI in the analysis of significant social issues. This is seen as a ray of light in a somber picture of some recent developments.