Roger Brown (psychologist)
Encyclopedia
Roger William Brown an American
social psychologist
, was born in Detroit.
. During the Battle of Okinawa
he served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. Returning to Michigan after the war, he became interested in the science of linguistics, earning a Bachelors degree in psychology in 1948 and a Ph.D. in 1952. Following his graduation from Michigan, he became an instructor and then assistant professor at Harvard. In 1957 he left Harvard for a position at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(M.I.T.) where he wrote his monumental Words and Things. He became a full professor of psychology at M.I.T. in 1960.
He completed his textbook, Social Psychology
, in 1965. The book was widely adopted in many universities as a core textbook. The success of the initial version of Social Psychology encouraged him to write a completely new textbook on social psychology which he entitled simply Social Psychology: The Second Edition, published in 1986. This was actually a very different book to the first edition.
He then undertook a landmark study of the linguistic development of children, published in A First Language.
He followed this work with an introductory textbook on psychology, written with his colleague Richard Herrnstein
.
At this time he concentrated upon studying specific familiar experiences such as that of "flashbulb memories" (for example, What were you doing the moment you heard of JFK's assassination?), and the "tip of the tongue phenomenon."
. While his sexual orientation and his relationship with Gilman were known to many of his close friends, and he served on the editorial board of The Journal of Homosexuality
from 1985, he did not come out publicly until 1989. After Gilman died in 1989, Brown consoled himself by pursuing relationships with several younger men, chronicled in his memoir.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
social psychologist
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
, was born in Detroit.
Early Life and Education
World War II interrupted his education at the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. During the Battle of Okinawa
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
he served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy. Returning to Michigan after the war, he became interested in the science of linguistics, earning a Bachelors degree in psychology in 1948 and a Ph.D. in 1952. Following his graduation from Michigan, he became an instructor and then assistant professor at Harvard. In 1957 he left Harvard for a position at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
(M.I.T.) where he wrote his monumental Words and Things. He became a full professor of psychology at M.I.T. in 1960.
Professorship
In 1962, Brown accepted a professorship at Harvard, where he became the John Lindsley Professor in Memory of William James, a position he held until his retirement in 1995.He completed his textbook, Social Psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
, in 1965. The book was widely adopted in many universities as a core textbook. The success of the initial version of Social Psychology encouraged him to write a completely new textbook on social psychology which he entitled simply Social Psychology: The Second Edition, published in 1986. This was actually a very different book to the first edition.
He then undertook a landmark study of the linguistic development of children, published in A First Language.
He followed this work with an introductory textbook on psychology, written with his colleague Richard Herrnstein
Richard Herrnstein
Richard J. Herrnstein was an American researcher in animal learning in the Skinnerian tradition. He was one of the founders of quantitative analysis of behavior....
.
At this time he concentrated upon studying specific familiar experiences such as that of "flashbulb memories" (for example, What were you doing the moment you heard of JFK's assassination?), and the "tip of the tongue phenomenon."
Personal life
Brown met his future partner of some 42 years, Albert Gilman, while both were studying at Michigan. Gilman later became a professor of English at Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. While his sexual orientation and his relationship with Gilman were known to many of his close friends, and he served on the editorial board of The Journal of Homosexuality
Journal of Homosexuality
The Journal of Homosexuality is a peer-reviewed academic journal This forum for research into same-sex desire examines sexual practices and gender roles in their cultural, historical, interpersonal, and modern social contexts. In the fall of 2005, the Journal celebrated its 50th volume.- History...
from 1985, he did not come out publicly until 1989. After Gilman died in 1989, Brown consoled himself by pursuing relationships with several younger men, chronicled in his memoir.
Books
- Brown, R (1965) Social Psychology. Collier Macmillan. ISBN 0-02-978430-1
- Brown, R (1958) Words and Things. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-02-904810-8
- Bellugi, U. & Brown, R (1971) The Acquisition of Language. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-76757-4
- Brown, R (Jun 1973) A First Language. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-30326-1
- Brown, R & Herrnstein R J (1977) Psychology. Little, Brown. ISBN 0-316-11204-6
- Brown, R (2003) Social Psychology, 2nd Edition. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-5340-X
Biographical References
- Brown, R. 1996. Against my better judgment: an intimate memoir of an eminent gay psychologist. New York: Harrington Park Press.
- Hopkins, J. R. 2000. "Brown, Roger William." Encyclopedia of Psychology, Vol. 1 (pp. 479–480). Alan E. Kazdin, Ed. Oxford University Press.
- Murray, Stephen O. 1999. "Roger Brown (1925-1997): A Memorial." Journal of Homosexuality, 37(1): 1-2.