Differential K theory: Difference between revisions
+ ref |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Differential ''K'' theory}} |
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Differential ''K'' theory}} |
||
In psychology and criminology, '''Differential ''K'' theory''' is a debunked hypothesis first proposed by Canadian psychologist [[J. Philippe Rushton]] in 1985,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rushton|first=J. Philippe|authorlink=J. Philippe Rushton|title=Differential ''K'' theory: The sociobiology of individual and group differences|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|date=January 1985|volume=6|issue=4|pages=441–452|doi=10.1016/0191-8869(85)90137-0}}</ref> which attempts to apply [[r/K selection theory|''r''/''K'' selection theory]] to [[human races]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Statement from the Department of Psychology regarding research conducted by Dr. J. Philippe Rushton |url=https://psychology.uwo.ca/people/faculty/remembrance/rushton.html |website=Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario}}</ref> According to Rushton, this theory explains race differences in fertility, IQ, criminality, and sexual anatomy and behavior.<ref name=weizmann>{{cite journal|last1=Weizmann|first1=Fredric|last2=Wiener|first2=Neil I.|last3=Wiesenthal|first3=David L.|last4=Ziegler|first4=Michael|title=Differential ''K'' theory and racial hierarchies.|journal=Canadian Psychology|date=1990|volume=31|issue=1|pages=1–13|doi=10.1037/h0078934}}</ref> The theory also hypothesizes that a single factor, the "''K'' factor", affects multiple population statistics Rushton referred to as "life-history traits".<ref name=templer>{{cite journal|last=Templer|first=Donald I.|authorlink=Donald Templer|title=Correlational and factor analytic support for Rushton's differential ''K'' life history theory|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|date=October 2008|volume=45|issue=6|pages=440–444|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2008.05.010}}</ref> It has criticized as a key example of [[scientific racism]] and devoid of empirical basis.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Winston |first=Andrew S. |date=29 May 2020 |title=Scientific Racism and North American Psychology |url=https://oxfordre.com/psychology/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.001.0001/acrefore-9780190236557-e-516; |website=Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Psychology}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Weizmann |first=Frederic |last2=Wiener |first2=Neil I. |last3=Wiesenthal |first3=David L. |last4=Ziegler |first4=Michael |date=1989 |title=Scientific racism in contemporary psychology |url=https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1997-72991-001 |journal=International Journal of Dynamic Assessment & Instruction |volume=1:1 |pages=81–93}}</ref> |
In psychology and criminology, '''Differential ''K'' theory''' is a debunked hypothesis first proposed by Canadian psychologist [[J. Philippe Rushton]] in 1985,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Rushton|first=J. Philippe|authorlink=J. Philippe Rushton|title=Differential ''K'' theory: The sociobiology of individual and group differences|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|date=January 1985|volume=6|issue=4|pages=441–452|doi=10.1016/0191-8869(85)90137-0}}</ref> which attempts to apply [[r/K selection theory|''r''/''K'' selection theory]] to [[human races]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Statement from the Department of Psychology regarding research conducted by Dr. J. Philippe Rushton |url=https://psychology.uwo.ca/people/faculty/remembrance/rushton.html |website=Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario}}</ref> According to Rushton, this theory explains race differences in fertility, IQ, criminality, and sexual anatomy and behavior.<ref name=weizmann>{{cite journal|last1=Weizmann|first1=Fredric|last2=Wiener|first2=Neil I.|last3=Wiesenthal|first3=David L.|last4=Ziegler|first4=Michael|title=Differential ''K'' theory and racial hierarchies.|journal=Canadian Psychology|date=1990|volume=31|issue=1|pages=1–13|doi=10.1037/h0078934}}</ref> The theory also hypothesizes that a single factor, the "''K'' factor", affects multiple population statistics Rushton referred to as "life-history traits".<ref name=templer>{{cite journal|last=Templer|first=Donald I.|authorlink=Donald Templer|title=Correlational and factor analytic support for Rushton's differential ''K'' life history theory|journal=Personality and Individual Differences|date=October 2008|volume=45|issue=6|pages=440–444|doi=10.1016/j.paid.2008.05.010}}</ref> It has been criticized as a key example of [[scientific racism]] and devoid of empirical basis.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Winston |first=Andrew S. |date=29 May 2020 |title=Scientific Racism and North American Psychology |url=https://oxfordre.com/psychology/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.001.0001/acrefore-9780190236557-e-516; |website=Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Psychology}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Weizmann |first=Frederic |last2=Wiener |first2=Neil I. |last3=Wiesenthal |first3=David L. |last4=Ziegler |first4=Michael |date=1989 |title=Scientific racism in contemporary psychology |url=https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1997-72991-001 |journal=International Journal of Dynamic Assessment & Instruction |volume=1:1 |pages=81–93}}</ref> |
||
==History== |
==History== |
||
Revision as of 13:18, 20 April 2022
In psychology and criminology, Differential K theory is a debunked hypothesis first proposed by Canadian psychologist J. Philippe Rushton in 1985,[1] which attempts to apply r/K selection theory to human races.[2] According to Rushton, this theory explains race differences in fertility, IQ, criminality, and sexual anatomy and behavior.[3] The theory also hypothesizes that a single factor, the "K factor", affects multiple population statistics Rushton referred to as "life-history traits".[4] It has been criticized as a key example of scientific racism and devoid of empirical basis.[5][6]
History
A 2013 study found tentative support for some aspects of the theory, specifically the correlative relationships between IQ and parental investment along with fertility rates.[7] However, the authors noted that, after accounting for the proportion of black residents among counties, no association was observed between IQ and either life-history variable.
Some researchers have also tried to combine differential K theory with Terrie Moffitt's developmental theory of crime to create what they call a "unified crime theory".[8]
Reception
As Andrew Winston summarizes, "Rushton’s work was heavily criticized by psychologists, evolutionary biologists, anthropologists, and geneticists for severe scientific inadequacies, fundamental errors, inappropriate conceptualization of race, inappropriate statistical comparisons, misuse of sources, and serious logical errors and flaws."[5] Differential K theory in particular was described in a 2020 statement by Rushton's former department at Western Ontario University as "thoroughly debunked."[2]
Weizmann et al. argued that Rushton attempted to validate this hypothesis by use of "selective citation and misrepresentation of the research literature and by the use of unreliable sources"[3] and that Rushton's methodology "indicates a lack of familiarity with ecological thinking and scientific method in general."[9] A 2014 study found differences in the General Factor of Personality across races that were not compatible with differential K theory.[10] Additional criticism of the theory has come from Edward M. Miller, who has argued that contrary to the theory, unpredictable environments select for K, not r characteristics.[11]
References
- ^ Rushton, J. Philippe (January 1985). "Differential K theory: The sociobiology of individual and group differences". Personality and Individual Differences. 6 (4): 441–452. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(85)90137-0.
- ^ a b "Statement from the Department of Psychology regarding research conducted by Dr. J. Philippe Rushton". Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario.
- ^ a b Weizmann, Fredric; Wiener, Neil I.; Wiesenthal, David L.; Ziegler, Michael (1990). "Differential K theory and racial hierarchies". Canadian Psychology. 31 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1037/h0078934.
- ^ Templer, Donald I. (October 2008). "Correlational and factor analytic support for Rushton's differential K life history theory". Personality and Individual Differences. 45 (6): 440–444. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2008.05.010.
- ^ a b Winston, Andrew S. (29 May 2020). "Scientific Racism and North American Psychology". Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Psychology.
- ^ Weizmann, Frederic; Wiener, Neil I.; Wiesenthal, David L.; Ziegler, Michael (1989). "Scientific racism in contemporary psychology". International Journal of Dynamic Assessment & Instruction. 1:1: 81–93.
- ^ Boutwell, Brian B.; Franklin, Travis W.; Barnes, J.C.; Beaver, Kevin M.; Deaton, Raelynn; Lewis, Richard H.; Tamplin, Amanda K.; Petkovsek, Melissa A. (September 2013). "County-level IQ and fertility rates: A partial test of Differential-K theory". Personality and Individual Differences. 55 (5): 547–552. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2013.04.018.
- ^ Boutwell, Brian B.; Barnes, J.C.; Beaver, Kevin M.; Haynes, Raelynn Deaton; Nedelec, Joseph L.; Gibson, Chris L. (2015). "A unified crime theory: The evolutionary taxonomy". Aggression and Violent Behavior. 25: 343–353. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2015.09.003.
- ^ Anderson, Judith L. (1991). "Rushton's racial comparisons: An ecological critique of theory and method". Canadian Psychology. 32 (1): 51–62. doi:10.1037/h0078956.
- ^ Dunkel, Curtis S.; Cabeza De Baca, Tomás; Woodley, Michael A.; Fernandes, Heitor B.F. (April 2014). "The General Factor of Personality and general intelligence: Testing hypotheses from Differential-K, Life History Theory, and strategic differentiation–integration effort". Personality and Individual Differences. 61–62: 13–17. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2013.12.017.
- ^ Miller, Edward M. (December 1995). "Environmental variability selects for large families only in special circumstances: Another objection to differential K theory". Personality and Individual Differences. 19 (6): 903–918. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(95)00126-3.
 | This psychology-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |