Nevitt Sanford
Encyclopedia
Nevitt Sanford was professor of psychology
at the University of California at Berkeley. He studied ethnocentrism and antisemitism, and was one of the authors of The Authoritarian Personality
. His co-authors in this work were Theodor W. Adorno
, Else Frenkel-Brunswik
and Daniel Levinson
. Sanford studied the interactions between social systems and personality, arguing that social conditions could encourage those with dogmatic biases to persecute those groups against which they were prejudiced.
Sanford was born in Chatham, Virginia
, son and grandson of Baptist ministers. He took his first degree at the University of Virginia
. This was followed first by a master's at Columbia University
and then a Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University
. He joined the staff at Harvard Psychological Clinic in 1935. In 1940 he became professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1950 Berkeley dismissed him (and 11 other professors) because of their refusal to sign the loyalty oath.
After Berkeley, Sanford briefly became a research affiliate at the Tavistock Institute
for Human Relations in London before returning to the US to work at Vassar College
.
In 1959 as a result of a finding of the California Supreme Court, Sanford was reinstated at Berkeley. Once reinstated, he immediately quit. In 1961 he moved west to become a professor at Stanford
.
In the 1950s and early 60s he played a lead role in a major study of higher education (publications included: The American College (1962) and Where Colleges Fail (1967)). These studies argued that there was an overemphasis on academic publishing – a phenomenon often referred to as the "publish or perish" syndrome, and that this was leading to a deterioration in teaching quality.
In 1968 he founded the Wright Institute
.
Sanford was the single or joint author of approximately 200 academic articles and around 12 books.
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the University of California at Berkeley. He studied ethnocentrism and antisemitism, and was one of the authors of The Authoritarian Personality
The Authoritarian Personality
The Authoritarian Personality is an influential sociology book by Theodor W. Adorno, Else Frenkel-Brunswik, Daniel Levinson, and Nevitt Sanford, researchers working at the University of California, Berkeley, during and shortly after World War II.TAP "invented a set of criteria by which to define...
. His co-authors in this work were Theodor W. Adorno
Theodor W. Adorno
Theodor W. Adorno was a German sociologist, philosopher, and musicologist known for his critical theory of society....
, Else Frenkel-Brunswik
Else Frenkel-Brunswik
Else Frenkel-Brunswik was a Polish-Austrian Jewish psychologist.- External links :* http://www.kfunigraz.ac.at/sozwww/agsoe/bestand/25_agsoe/25bio.htm...
and Daniel Levinson
Daniel Levinson
Daniel J. Levinson , a psychologist, was one of the founders of the field of Positive Adult Development.-Early life and education:...
. Sanford studied the interactions between social systems and personality, arguing that social conditions could encourage those with dogmatic biases to persecute those groups against which they were prejudiced.
Sanford was born in Chatham, Virginia
Chatham, Virginia
Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy. It is also home to Chatham Hall , an...
, son and grandson of Baptist ministers. He took his first degree at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. This was followed first by a master's at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and then a Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He joined the staff at Harvard Psychological Clinic in 1935. In 1940 he became professor of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley. In 1950 Berkeley dismissed him (and 11 other professors) because of their refusal to sign the loyalty oath.
After Berkeley, Sanford briefly became a research affiliate at the Tavistock Institute
Tavistock Institute
The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations is a British charity concerned with group behaviour and organisational behaviour. It was launched in 1946, when it separated from the Tavistock Clinic.-History of the Tavistock:...
for Human Relations in London before returning to the US to work at Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
.
In 1959 as a result of a finding of the California Supreme Court, Sanford was reinstated at Berkeley. Once reinstated, he immediately quit. In 1961 he moved west to become a professor at Stanford
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...
.
In the 1950s and early 60s he played a lead role in a major study of higher education (publications included: The American College (1962) and Where Colleges Fail (1967)). These studies argued that there was an overemphasis on academic publishing – a phenomenon often referred to as the "publish or perish" syndrome, and that this was leading to a deterioration in teaching quality.
In 1968 he founded the Wright Institute
Wright Institute
The Wright Institute is a Clinical Psychology Graduate School located in Berkeley, California.-Founding:The Institute was founded by Nevitt Sanford in 1968 when he left Stanford...
.
Sanford was the single or joint author of approximately 200 academic articles and around 12 books.