The eugenic legacy in psychology and psychiatry.
BACKGROUND
Assumptions about genetic differences in human mental characteristics can be traced in large part to the eugenic movement, ascendant at the turn of the 20th century.


METHODS
This paper offers historical case studies, of 'innate general cognitive ability' and 'psychiatric genetics', in order to appraise the eugenic legacy in current psychology and psychiatry.


CONCLUSIONS
Reviewing the work of representatives, Cyril Burt, Franz Kallmann and Eliot Slater, along with their research networks, it is argued that eugenics remains a quiet but powerful background influence in modern-day psychology and psychiatry.


CONCLUSIONS
At the turn of the 21st century, eugenics remains an important area of inquiry, reflection and education for those in the inter-disciplinary field of social psychiatry.
University of Central Lancashire, UK. dpilgrim@uclan.ac.uk
David
D
Pilgrim
D005053:Eugenics; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000266:history*; D011584:Psychology / Q000266:history*