Leon Kamin
Encyclopedia
Leon J. Kamin is an American
psychologist
who chaired Princeton University
's Department of Psychology
in 1968.
Kamin's initial contribution to psychology came from his research and documentation of the "blocking effect
" (1969). He demonstrated that an animal is "blocked" from associating a stimulus (say, a bell
) with result (say, food
), if the stimulus is presented simultaneously with another stimulus that the animal already associates with the result. If the dog already associates the whistle
with food, then sounding the whistle and ringing a bell when you give it food will not teach it to associate the bell with food. The blocking effect is one of the hallmark
effects in the study of associative learning in humans and animals.
Kamin has long opposed the idea that significant personal traits are largely heritable. He became skeptical of the claims of Cyril Burt
regarding the heritability
of IQ, and published his findings in a 1974 book The Science and Politics of IQ. He co-authored the controversial book Not in Our Genes
(1984) with Dick Lewontin and Steven Rose
. This book, championing the "radical science movement," attacked sociobiology
and evolutionary psychology
. Kamin is known in some circles for his position that the heritability of IQ could be zero (Mackintosh, 1998)
He is honorary professor of psychology at the University of Cape Town
in South Africa
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
who chaired Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
's Department of Psychology
Princeton University Department of Psychology
The Princeton University Department of Psychology, located in Green Hall, is an academic department of Princeton University on the corner of Washington St. and William St. in Princeton, New Jersey. For over a century, the department has been one of the most notable psychology departments in the...
in 1968.
Kamin's initial contribution to psychology came from his research and documentation of the "blocking effect
Blocking effect
Kamin's blocking effect demonstrates that conditioning to a stimulus could be blocked if the stimulus were reinforced in compound with a previously conditioned stimulus....
" (1969). He demonstrated that an animal is "blocked" from associating a stimulus (say, a bell
Bell (instrument)
A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck...
) with result (say, food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
), if the stimulus is presented simultaneously with another stimulus that the animal already associates with the result. If the dog already associates the whistle
Whistle
A whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
with food, then sounding the whistle and ringing a bell when you give it food will not teach it to associate the bell with food. The blocking effect is one of the hallmark
Hallmark
A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of precious metals — platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium...
effects in the study of associative learning in humans and animals.
Kamin has long opposed the idea that significant personal traits are largely heritable. He became skeptical of the claims of Cyril Burt
Cyril Burt
Sir Cyril Lodowic Burt was an English educational psychologist who made contributions to educational psychology and statistics....
regarding the heritability
Heritability
The Heritability of a population is the proportion of observable differences between individuals that is due to genetic differences. Factors including genetics, environment and random chance can all contribute to the variation between individuals in their observable characteristics...
of IQ, and published his findings in a 1974 book The Science and Politics of IQ. He co-authored the controversial book Not in Our Genes
Not in Our Genes
Not in Our Genes: Biology, Ideology and Human Nature is a 1984 book authored by evolutionary geneticist Richard Lewontin, neurobiologist Steven Rose and psychologist Leon J...
(1984) with Dick Lewontin and Steven Rose
Steven Rose
Steven P. Rose is a Professor of Biology and Neurobiology at the Open University and University of London.-Life:...
. This book, championing the "radical science movement," attacked sociobiology
Sociobiology
Sociobiology is a field of scientific study which is based on the assumption that social behavior has resulted from evolution and attempts to explain and examine social behavior within that context. Often considered a branch of biology and sociology, it also draws from ethology, anthropology,...
and evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology
Evolutionary psychology is an approach in the social and natural sciences that examines psychological traits such as memory, perception, and language from a modern evolutionary perspective. It seeks to identify which human psychological traits are evolved adaptations, that is, the functional...
. Kamin is known in some circles for his position that the heritability of IQ could be zero (Mackintosh, 1998)
He is honorary professor of psychology at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.