Western Behavioral Sciences Institute
Encyclopedia
The Western Behavioral Sciences Institute (WBSI) was founded in 1958, in La Jolla, California, as an independent, nonprofit organization
devoted to research, education and advanced study in human affairs. Its early studies included research on the leadership of small groups, communication in large organizations, international negotiation, simulation studies of deterrence strategies for defense, building educational games, studies of self-directed therapeutic groups, crime and violence prevention, and policy studies in poverty, race relations, education, and family life.
Founded by psychologist Richard Farson
, physicist Paul Lloyd and social psychologist Wayman Crow
, the Institute came to embrace all of the other disciplines interested in human relations - sociology, political science, philosophy, economics, anthropology, etc. Its staff has always included outstanding leaders in the social sciences.
WBSI became best known, perhaps, as the place Carl Rogers
, considered by many to be the most influential psychologist in American history, developed his theories of group behavior, or the place famed psychologist Abraham Maslow
wrote his most important book, Toward a Psychology of Being, or the place that produced the winner of the Academy Award for Documentary Feature
, Journey Into Self
. In fact, it has broken ground in a number of areas important to the improvement of human affairs.
For example, in 1981, long before there was an Internet, WBSI began a series of programs that pioneered the use of computer conferencing
in education, leadership development, policy formation, mental health, and the formation of global communities of scholars, scientists and leaders. The leading example is WBSI's pioneering School of Management and Strategic Studies, the very first program to employ online distance education, supplemented by twice-yearly meetings in La Jolla. Faculty and lecturers included leaders and innovators in academia, politics, science, business, and the arts such as Harlan Cleveland
, Mary Douglas
, Langdon Winner
, Stewart Brand
, Howard Nemerov
, Robert Reich
, Walter Orr Roberts
, Rusty Schweickart
, Nicholas Johnson
, and Paul Levinson
. Student participants included CEOs of major corporations, high-ranking U.S. Army generals, scientists, renowned writers and other professionals including Barry McCaffrey
, Gloria Feldt
, Donald B. Straus
, Marlon Brando
, Wesley Clark
, Michael Crichton
, Wayne Peterson
and many others.
In 1991, a deep economic recession in the U. S. seriously affected WBSI's foundation, corporate and governmental supporters, as well as its key individual benefactors. Without adequate financial reserves, the institute was forced to enter a period of dormancy from which it only recently emerged. Generous gifts from former trustee Douglas Strain and philanthropist Sol Price has made this renaissance possible.
Flowing from that early work in creating online communities, WBSI's current interests are first in the development of its centerpiece program, the International Leadership Forum, an online global think tank composed of eighty highly influential leaders discussing the great policy issues of our time. The Institute is also concerned with fostering improved distance education, enabling the collaboration of independent scholars, using the Internet and mass media for metaprofessional development in mental health, and in the further application of global communications technology to serve humanitarian goals.
Nonprofit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
devoted to research, education and advanced study in human affairs. Its early studies included research on the leadership of small groups, communication in large organizations, international negotiation, simulation studies of deterrence strategies for defense, building educational games, studies of self-directed therapeutic groups, crime and violence prevention, and policy studies in poverty, race relations, education, and family life.
Founded by psychologist Richard Farson
Richard Farson
Richard Farson Ph.D., is a psychologist, author, and educator. He is the president and chief executive officer of the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute, which he co-founded in 1958 with physicist Paul Lloyd and social psychologist Wayman Crow.The non-profit WBSI explores ways in which human...
, physicist Paul Lloyd and social psychologist Wayman Crow
Wayman Crow
Wayman Crow was one of the founders of Washington University, a St. Louis businessmen, as well as a politician. Born in Kentucky in March 1808 Crow entered into the dry goods business at the age of 12, as an apprenticeship in a general dry goods store. Eight years later Crow started his own dry...
, the Institute came to embrace all of the other disciplines interested in human relations - sociology, political science, philosophy, economics, anthropology, etc. Its staff has always included outstanding leaders in the social sciences.
WBSI became best known, perhaps, as the place Carl Rogers
Carl Rogers
Carl Ransom Rogers was an influential American psychologist and among the founders of the humanistic approach to psychology...
, considered by many to be the most influential psychologist in American history, developed his theories of group behavior, or the place famed psychologist Abraham Maslow
Abraham Maslow
Abraham Harold Maslow was an American professor of psychology at Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research and Columbia University who created Maslow's hierarchy of needs...
wrote his most important book, Toward a Psychology of Being, or the place that produced the winner of the Academy Award for Documentary Feature
Academy Award for Documentary Feature
The Academy Award for Documentary Feature is among the most prestigious awards for documentary films.- Winners and nominees:Following the Academy's practice, films are listed below by the award year...
, Journey Into Self
Journey into Self
Journey Into Self a documentary film introduced by Stanley Kramer, produced by Bill McGaw and directed by Tom Skinner. The film portrays a 16-hour group-therapy session of eight well-adjusted people who have never met before, led by psychologists Richard Farson and Carl Rogers...
. In fact, it has broken ground in a number of areas important to the improvement of human affairs.
For example, in 1981, long before there was an Internet, WBSI began a series of programs that pioneered the use of computer conferencing
Computer conferencing
In telecommunication, the term computer conferencing has the following meanings:#Teleconferencing supported by one or more computers.#An arrangement in which access, by multiple users, to a common database is mediated by a controlling computer....
in education, leadership development, policy formation, mental health, and the formation of global communities of scholars, scientists and leaders. The leading example is WBSI's pioneering School of Management and Strategic Studies, the very first program to employ online distance education, supplemented by twice-yearly meetings in La Jolla. Faculty and lecturers included leaders and innovators in academia, politics, science, business, and the arts such as Harlan Cleveland
Harlan Cleveland
Harlan Cleveland was an American diplomat, educator, and author. He served as Lyndon Johnson's U.S. Ambassador to NATO, 1965–1969, and earlier as U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, 1961-1965...
, Mary Douglas
Mary Douglas
Dame Mary Douglas, DBE, FBA was a British anthropologist, known for her writings on human culture and symbolism....
, Langdon Winner
Langdon Winner
Langdon Winner is Professor of Political Science in the Department of Science and Technology Studies atRensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York since 1990....
, Stewart Brand
Stewart Brand
Stewart Brand is an American writer, best known as editor of the Whole Earth Catalog. He founded a number of organizations including The WELL, the Global Business Network, and the Long Now Foundation...
, Howard Nemerov
Howard Nemerov
Howard Nemerov was an American poet. He was twice appointed Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1963 to 1964, and again from 1988 to 1990. He received the National Book Award, Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and Bollingen Prize for The Collected Poems of Howard Nemerov...
, Robert Reich
Robert Reich
Robert Bernard Reich is an American political economist, professor, author, and political commentator. He served in the administrations of Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter and was Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997....
, Walter Orr Roberts
Walter Orr Roberts
Walter Orr Roberts was an American astronomer and atmospheric physicist. He received his doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University in 1943. He taught online for the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute in the mid-1980s, and also published an online weekly column entitled "Provocations"...
, Rusty Schweickart
Rusty Schweickart
Russell Louis "Rusty" Schweickart aka Schweikart is an American former astronaut, research scientist, US Air Force fighter pilot, business and government executive...
, Nicholas Johnson
Nicholas Johnson
Nicholas Johnson is best known for his controversial term as a dissenting Federal Communications Commission commissioner, 1966-1973, and his book, How to Talk Back to Your Television Set...
, and Paul Levinson
Paul Levinson
Paul Levinson is an American author and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York City. Levinson's novels, short fiction, and non-fiction works have been translated into twelve languages....
. Student participants included CEOs of major corporations, high-ranking U.S. Army generals, scientists, renowned writers and other professionals including Barry McCaffrey
Barry McCaffrey
Barry Richard McCaffrey is a retired United States Army general, former U.S. Drug Czar, news commentator, and business consultant....
, Gloria Feldt
Gloria Feldt
Gloria Feldt at Temple, Texas, is a well-known author, commentator, and feminist leader.Feldt is a frequent public speaker, lecturing at universities, civic and professional organizations, and national and international conferences on women, feminism, politics, leadership, media, and health...
, Donald B. Straus
Donald B. Straus
Donald Blun Straus was an American educator and an executive in public service. Straus, who held A.B. and M.B.A...
, Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando, Jr. was an American movie star and political activist. "Unchallenged as the most important actor in modern American Cinema" according to the St...
, Wesley Clark
Wesley Clark
Wesley Kanne Clark, Sr., is a retired general of the United States Army. Graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1966 at West Point, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he obtained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and later graduated from the...
, Michael Crichton
Michael Crichton
John Michael Crichton , best known as Michael Crichton, was an American best-selling author, producer, director, and screenwriter, best known for his work in the science fiction, medical fiction, and thriller genres. His books have sold over 200 million copies worldwide, and many have been adapted...
, Wayne Peterson
Wayne Peterson
Wayne Peterson is a Pulitzer Prize winning composer, as well as a pianist and educator.Peterson earned B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Minnesota...
and many others.
In 1991, a deep economic recession in the U. S. seriously affected WBSI's foundation, corporate and governmental supporters, as well as its key individual benefactors. Without adequate financial reserves, the institute was forced to enter a period of dormancy from which it only recently emerged. Generous gifts from former trustee Douglas Strain and philanthropist Sol Price has made this renaissance possible.
Flowing from that early work in creating online communities, WBSI's current interests are first in the development of its centerpiece program, the International Leadership Forum, an online global think tank composed of eighty highly influential leaders discussing the great policy issues of our time. The Institute is also concerned with fostering improved distance education, enabling the collaboration of independent scholars, using the Internet and mass media for metaprofessional development in mental health, and in the further application of global communications technology to serve humanitarian goals.
External links
- Western Behavioral Sciences Institute
- ILF Digest - a bimonthly e-zine that includes transcripts of members’ online, interactive conferences as well as commentaries by and interviews with members.