Robert Perloff
Encyclopedia
Robert Perloff is an American psychology
and business administration professor emeritus.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Perloff was drafted into the United States Army
to fight in the Philippines
during World War II
. Upon his return, Perloff graduated from Temple University
in 1949, and his PhD in psychology from Ohio State University
. Following postdoctoral work, he then taught industrial and consumer psychology at Purdue University
. Much of his career was spent as professor of Business and Psychology at University of Pittsburgh
.
He has been President of the Association for Consumer Research and the American Psychological Association
. For his APA presidential address in 1985, he gave a speech in praise of self-interest called "Self-Interest and Personal Responsibility Redux". It was printed in American Psychologist
(vol. 42, 1987) and the journal called it "one of 50 classic articles published in the journal's previous 50 years."
In 1995, Perloff was one of 52 signatories on "Mainstream Science on Intelligence
", an editorial written by Linda Gottfredson
and published in the Wall Street Journal, which declared the consensus of the signing scholars on issues related to race and intelligence
following the publication of the book The Bell Curve
. Also in 1995, Perloff was named to an American Psychological Association task force that reviewed controversial issues in response to the claims being advanced amid the Bell Curve
controversy, producing a report titled "Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns
."
At the APA's 2001 Annual Convention, Dr. Perloff condemned what he sees as the APA's one-sided political activism. "The APA is too goddamn politically correct...and too goddamn obeisant to special interests!"
In 2004, Perloff was the keynote speaker for the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality's Annual Conference. In support of the mission statement of NARTH, he concluded, "The individual's right for self-determination of sexuality -- or sexual autonomy -- is, I am happy to see, inherent in NARTH's position statement: 'NARTH respects each client's dignity, autonomy, and free agency...every individual has the right to claim a gay identity, or to develop their heterosexual potential. The right to seek therapy to change one's sexual adaptation is considered self-evident and inalienable.' I subscribe fully to the aforementioned NARTH position statement." Perloff was the 2008 recipient of NARTH's President's Award.
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...
and business administration professor emeritus.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Perloff was drafted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
to fight in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Upon his return, Perloff graduated from Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in 1949, and his PhD in psychology from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
. Following postdoctoral work, he then taught industrial and consumer psychology at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
. Much of his career was spent as professor of Business and Psychology at University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
.
He has been President of the Association for Consumer Research and the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
. For his APA presidential address in 1985, he gave a speech in praise of self-interest called "Self-Interest and Personal Responsibility Redux". It was printed in American Psychologist
American Psychologist
The American Psychologist is the official academic journal of the American Psychological Association. It contains archival documents and articles covering current issues in psychology, the science and practice of psychology, and psychology's contribution to public policy...
(vol. 42, 1987) and the journal called it "one of 50 classic articles published in the journal's previous 50 years."
In 1995, Perloff was one of 52 signatories on "Mainstream Science on Intelligence
Mainstream Science on Intelligence
Mainstream Science on Intelligence was a public statement issued by a group of academic researchers in fields allied to intelligence testing that claimed to present those findings widely accepted in the expert community...
", an editorial written by Linda Gottfredson
Linda Gottfredson
Linda Susanne Gottfredson is a professor of educational psychology at the University of Delaware and co-director of the Delaware-Johns Hopkins Project for the Study of Intelligence and Society. Gottfredson's work has been influential in shaping U.S...
and published in the Wall Street Journal, which declared the consensus of the signing scholars on issues related to race and intelligence
Race and intelligence
The connection between race and intelligence has been a subject of debate in both popular science and academic research since the inception of intelligence testing in the early 20th century...
following the publication of the book The Bell Curve
The Bell Curve
The Bell Curve is a best-selling and controversial 1994 book by the Harvard psychologist Richard J. Herrnstein and political scientist Charles Murray...
. Also in 1995, Perloff was named to an American Psychological Association task force that reviewed controversial issues in response to the claims being advanced amid the Bell Curve
Bell curve
Bell curve can refer to:* A Gaussian function, a specific kind of function whose graph is a bell-shaped curve* Normal distribution, whose density function is a Gaussian function...
controversy, producing a report titled "Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns
Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns
Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns was a 1995 report issued by a Task Force created by the Board of Scientific Affairs of the American Psychological Association.- Background :...
."
At the APA's 2001 Annual Convention, Dr. Perloff condemned what he sees as the APA's one-sided political activism. "The APA is too goddamn politically correct...and too goddamn obeisant to special interests!"
In 2004, Perloff was the keynote speaker for the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality's Annual Conference. In support of the mission statement of NARTH, he concluded, "The individual's right for self-determination of sexuality -- or sexual autonomy -- is, I am happy to see, inherent in NARTH's position statement: 'NARTH respects each client's dignity, autonomy, and free agency...every individual has the right to claim a gay identity, or to develop their heterosexual potential. The right to seek therapy to change one's sexual adaptation is considered self-evident and inalienable.' I subscribe fully to the aforementioned NARTH position statement." Perloff was the 2008 recipient of NARTH's President's Award.
Selected publications
Datta L-E, Perloff R. Improving Evaluations. 1979: SAGE Focus Editions. ISBN 0-8039-1240-4.External links
- Robert Perloff Profile via Temple University
- Intelligence: Knowns and Unknowns