Research article summary (published 30 Dec 2006):

Recurring errors among recent history of psychology textbooks.

Full Abstract

Five recurring errors in history of psychology textbooks are discussed. One involves an identical misquotation. The remaining examples involve factual and interpretational errors that more than one and usually several textbook authors made. In at least 2 cases some facts were fabricated, namely, so-called facts associated with Pavlov's mugging and Descartes's reasons for choosing the pineal gland as the locus for mind-body interaction. A fourth example involves Broca's so-called discovery of the speech center, and the fifth example involves misinterpretations of Lloyd Morgan's intentions regarding his famous canon. When an error involves misinterpretation and thus misrepresentation, I will show why the misinterpretation is untenable.

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Author information

Author/s: Thomas, Roger K (RK);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens 30602-3013, USA. rkthomas@uga.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Historical Article; Journal Article

Journal: The American journal of psychology (Am J Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-; vol 120 (issue 3) : pp 477-95

Dates: Created 2007/09/25; Completed 2007/10/19; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 17892089, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Anecdotes as Topic Authorship Conditioning, Classical Frontal Lobe - physiology Historiography History, 20th Century

History, 20th Century Humans Neurophysiology - history Pineal Gland - physiology Psychology - education; history; trends Textbooks as Topic - history; standards

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