Frank A. Beach
Encyclopedia
Frank Ambrose Beach, Jr. (April 13, 1911 – June 15, 1988) was an American
ethologist, best known as co-author of the 1951 book Patterns of Sexual Behavior
.
, the first of three children to Frank Ambrose Beach and Bertha Robinson Beach. Although he respected his father, a distinguished Professor of Music
at Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University
), Frank Beach Jr. often rebelled against him. Beach began an English major
at Emporia, but was sent to Antioch College
for his sophomore year. Beach graduated in 1932, and, unable to find a job, accepted a fellowship
in clinical psychology
at Emporia. Beach completed a thesis
on color vision
in rat
s. He moved to the University of Chicago
, where he met behaviorist Karl Lashley
, who had perhaps the strongest influence on Beach's professional life. Financial difficulties forced Beach to leave Chicago, and took a high school
teaching position in Yates Center, Kansas
, where he married his first wife. The union was short-lived.
Beach returned to the University of Chicago, and completed, under the supervision of Harvey Carr, a PhD thesis
on the role the neocortex
on innate maternal behavior in rats. During this period, Beach married his second wife, Anna Beth Odenweller, with whom he had two children, Frank and Susan. In 1936, Beach accepted a one-year position at Karl Lashley's Cambridge
laboratory, where he continued his studies of animal sexual behavior. The following year, he was employed by the American Museum of Natural History
in New York City
. Beach was influential in advancing the study of neural and endocrinal influences on animal behavior.
Beach, along with anthropologist Clellan S. Ford
, co-authored the book Patterns of Sexual Behavior
(1951), considered a "classic" of its field.. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1953. He also authored an edited version, Human Sexuality in Four Perspectives, in 1977. Beach's second wife, Anna, died in 1971, and he thereafter married Noel Gaustad. In the days prior to his death, Beach continued his work from a hospital bed, reading scientific literature and giving advice about a paper on reproductive behavior to be presented at an Omaha
conference on June 12, 1988. He died on June 15, 1988.
" based on an old joke about U.S. President Calvin Coolidge
. Throughout his professional career, his greatest interests remained in the field of behaviour, remarking that “Man’s greatest problem today is not to understand and exploit his physical environment, but to understand and govern his own conduct.”
At age sixty-five, Beach wrote the following autobiographical
statement, which was preceded by a list of goals he wished to achieve:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
ethologist, best known as co-author of the 1951 book Patterns of Sexual Behavior
Patterns of Sexual Behavior
Patterns of Sexual Behavior, published in 1951, is a work of scientific literature co-authored by Clellan S. Ford and Frank A. Beach. The book integrates information about human sexual behavior from 191 different cultures, and includes detailed comparisons across animal species, with particular...
.
Biography
Frank Ambrose Beach, Jr. was born in Emporia, KansasEmporia, Kansas
Emporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
, the first of three children to Frank Ambrose Beach and Bertha Robinson Beach. Although he respected his father, a distinguished Professor of Music
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Kansas State Teachers College (now Emporia State University
Emporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
), Frank Beach Jr. often rebelled against him. Beach began an English major
English major
The English Major is a term in the United States and a few other countries for an undergraduate university degree focused around the consumption, analysis, and production of texts in the English language...
at Emporia, but was sent to Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
for his sophomore year. Beach graduated in 1932, and, unable to find a job, accepted a fellowship
Research fellow
The title of research fellow is used to denote a research position at a university or similar institution, usually for academic staff or faculty members. A research fellow may act either as an independent investigator or under the supervision of a principal investigator...
in clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
at Emporia. Beach completed a thesis
Thesis
A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in support of candidature for an academic degree or professional qualification presenting the author's research and findings...
on color vision
Color vision
Color vision is the capacity of an organism or machine to distinguish objects based on the wavelengths of the light they reflect, emit, or transmit...
in rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s. He moved to the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, where he met behaviorist Karl Lashley
Karl Lashley
-External links:*...
, who had perhaps the strongest influence on Beach's professional life. Financial difficulties forced Beach to leave Chicago, and took a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
teaching position in Yates Center, Kansas
Yates Center, Kansas
Yates Center is a city in and the county seat of Woodson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,417.-History:...
, where he married his first wife. The union was short-lived.
Beach returned to the University of Chicago, and completed, under the supervision of Harvey Carr, a PhD thesis
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
on the role the neocortex
Neocortex
The neocortex , also called the neopallium and isocortex , is a part of the brain of mammals. It is the outer layer of the cerebral hemispheres, and made up of six layers, labelled I to VI...
on innate maternal behavior in rats. During this period, Beach married his second wife, Anna Beth Odenweller, with whom he had two children, Frank and Susan. In 1936, Beach accepted a one-year position at Karl Lashley's Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
laboratory, where he continued his studies of animal sexual behavior. The following year, he was employed by the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Beach was influential in advancing the study of neural and endocrinal influences on animal behavior.
Beach, along with anthropologist Clellan S. Ford
Clellan S. Ford
Clellan Stearns Ford was an American anthropologist, best known as Professor of Anthropology at Yale University, and as co-author of the 1951 book Patterns of Sexual Behavior.-Biography:...
, co-authored the book Patterns of Sexual Behavior
Patterns of Sexual Behavior
Patterns of Sexual Behavior, published in 1951, is a work of scientific literature co-authored by Clellan S. Ford and Frank A. Beach. The book integrates information about human sexual behavior from 191 different cultures, and includes detailed comparisons across animal species, with particular...
(1951), considered a "classic" of its field.. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1953. He also authored an edited version, Human Sexuality in Four Perspectives, in 1977. Beach's second wife, Anna, died in 1971, and he thereafter married Noel Gaustad. In the days prior to his death, Beach continued his work from a hospital bed, reading scientific literature and giving advice about a paper on reproductive behavior to be presented at an Omaha
Omaha
Omaha may refer to:*Omaha , a Native American tribe that currently resides in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Nebraska-Places:United States* Omaha, Nebraska* Omaha, Arkansas* Omaha, Georgia* Omaha, Illinois* Omaha, Texas...
conference on June 12, 1988. He died on June 15, 1988.
Attitudes
Frank Beach is remembered as a serious scholar and researcher, who believed that "increasing knowledge, in and of itself, is a justifiable way to spent your life.” However, he was also known for his sense of fun, and humorously coined the term "Coolidge effectCoolidge effect
In biology and psychology, the Coolidge effect is a phenomenon—seen in nearly every mammalian species in which it has been tested—whereby males exhibit continuous sexual activity if they are introduced to receptive sexual partners, but will eventually stop having sex if the partner has already...
" based on an old joke about U.S. President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
. Throughout his professional career, his greatest interests remained in the field of behaviour, remarking that “Man’s greatest problem today is not to understand and exploit his physical environment, but to understand and govern his own conduct.”
At age sixty-five, Beach wrote the following autobiographical
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
statement, which was preceded by a list of goals he wished to achieve:
Of course, I shall never accomplish all the goals just listed, but that is unimportant. What counts is to have aims, to be able to work hard toward them and to experience the satisfaction of at least believing that progress is being made. I do not want to cross the finish line of this race – not ever – but I do hope I will be able to keep running at my own pace until I drop out still moving in full stride. It’s been one hell of a good race.