Robert Richardson Sears
Encyclopedia
Dr. Robert Richardson Sears (August 31, 1908-May 22, 1989) was an eminent American psychologist who specialized in child psychology. He was born in Palo Alto
, California
to Jesse Brundage Sears, a professor at Stanford University
, and Stella Louise (Richardson) Sears. He was married on June 25, 1932 to Pauline Kirkpatrick Snedden, who co-authored a book with him and with whom he shared an award for achievement in psychology late in their lives. He was for many years the head of the psychology department at Stanford and later dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences there, continued the long-term I.Q.
studies of Lewis Madison Terman at Stanford, and authored many pivotal papers and books on various aspects of psychology.
. He received his Artium Baccalaureus
degree from Stanford in 1929 and a Ph. D.
from Yale University
in 1932.
From 1942 until 1949 he was director of the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station
at the University of Iowa
where he worked with such luminaries as Kurt Zadek Lewin
. From 1949 until 1953 he directed the Laboratory of Human Development at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
.
In 1953 Sears returned to Stanford where he served as chair of the Psychology department until 1961, Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences from 1961 to 1970, and David Starr Jordan
Professor of Psychology from 1970 until 1975.
Sears was president of the American Psychological Association
in 1951.
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to Jesse Brundage Sears, a professor at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and Stella Louise (Richardson) Sears. He was married on June 25, 1932 to Pauline Kirkpatrick Snedden, who co-authored a book with him and with whom he shared an award for achievement in psychology late in their lives. He was for many years the head of the psychology department at Stanford and later dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences there, continued the long-term I.Q.
Intelligence quotient
An intelligence quotient, or IQ, is a score derived from one of several different standardized tests designed to assess intelligence. When modern IQ tests are constructed, the mean score within an age group is set to 100 and the standard deviation to 15...
studies of Lewis Madison Terman at Stanford, and authored many pivotal papers and books on various aspects of psychology.
Education
As a child Sears attended Palo Alto Union High SchoolPalo Alto High School
Palo Alto Senior High School, known locally as "Paly," was founded in 1898 and is one of the oldest high schools in the region. Located in Palo Alto, California, United States, Paly is nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is adjacent to Stanford University. Paly is known for its academically...
. He received his Artium Baccalaureus
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Stanford in 1929 and a Ph. D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1932.
Professional life
After leaving Yale Sears was first an instructor in psychology at the University of Illinois from 1932 to 1936 and at the same time was a clinical psychologist at the Institute for Juvenile Research there. He returned to Yale as an associate professor of psychology in 1936 and remained there until 1942.From 1942 until 1949 he was director of the Iowa Child Welfare Research Station
Iowa Child Welfare Research Station
The American Iowa Child Welfare Research Station attached to the University of Iowa conducted pioneering research into child development and child psychology during the 20th century. German-American psychologist Kurt Zadek Lewin worked there and Robert Richardson Sears directed the Station for...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
where he worked with such luminaries as Kurt Zadek Lewin
Kurt Lewin
Kurt Zadek Lewin was a German-American psychologist, known as one of the modern pioneers of social, organizational, and applied psychology....
. From 1949 until 1953 he directed the Laboratory of Human Development at the Harvard Graduate School of Education
Harvard Graduate School of Education
The Harvard Graduate School of Education is one of the graduate schools of Harvard University, and is one of the top schools of education in the United States. It was founded in 1920, the same year it invented the Ed.D...
.
In 1953 Sears returned to Stanford where he served as chair of the Psychology department until 1961, Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences from 1961 to 1970, and David Starr Jordan
David Starr Jordan
David Starr Jordan, Ph.D., LL.D. was a leading eugenicist, ichthyologist, educator and peace activist. He was president of Indiana University and Stanford University.-Early life and education:...
Professor of Psychology from 1970 until 1975.
Sears was president of the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
in 1951.
Select Works
- Frustration and aggression (1939, with John Dollard, Leonard William DoobLeonard W. DoobLeonard William Doob , was the Sterling Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Yale University, was a pioneering figure in the fields of cogntive and social psychology, propaganda and communication studies, as well as conflict resolution...
, Neal Elgar Miller, Orval Hobart MowrerOrval Hobart MowrerOrval Hobart Mowrer was an American born psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Illinois from 1948 to 1975 known for his research on behaviour therapy. Mowrer practiced psychotherapy in Champaign-Urbana and at Galesburg State Research Hospital. In 1954 Mowrer held the...
, ISBN 0-313-22201-0) - Survey of objective studies of psychoanalytic concepts (1943, Social Science Research Council, ISBN 0-313-21249-X)
- Patterns of child rearing (1957, Eleanor E. Maccoby, Harry Levin, Edgar L. Lowell, Pauline Snedden Sears, and John W. M. Whiting, Jean Berwick, ISBN 0-8047-0916-5)
- Identification and child rearing (1966, Lucy Rau Ferguson, Ram DassRam DassRam Dass is an American contemporary spiritual teacher and the author of the seminal 1971 book Be Here Now. He is known for his personal and professional associations with Timothy Leary at Harvard University in the early 1960s, for his travels to India and his relationship with the Hindu guru Neem...
, ISBN 0-422-98500-7) - Seven Ages of Man (June 1973, S. Shirley Feldman, ISBN 978-0-913232-06-4)
- Your ancients revisited: A history of child development (1975, ISBN 978-0-226-33154-6)