Join with a free account for more service, or become a member for full access to exclusives and extra support of WorldSupporter >>
Eugenics: Its Definition, Scope, and Aims
Galton, F. (1904). Eugenics: Its Definition, Scope, and Aims. American Journal of Sociology, 10(1), 1–6.
Eugenics was defined as the science that deals with all the influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race. In this paper, Galton discusses producing a “highly gifted race of man” by the process of selective breeding, which is referred as positive eugenics. Negative eugenics is discouraging the reproduction of “undesirables”. The meaning of the word eugenics would literally translated be “well-born,” as denoted by the prefix eu. Galton argues that character depends largely on the proportion between qualities, whose balance may be much influenced by education; thus, in his argument, it is essential to leave moral reasoning out of the discussion. Additionally, Galton argued that the goodness of a character is relative to the current state of civilisation. Say, for example, that all of the animals in a zoo were polled about their thoughts on morality. It would be pointless to debate the contradictions brought up by those who prey and those who are prey. Though an agreement on the finer details of absolute morality cannot be reached, the essentials of eugenics can still be easily defined in this scenario: All creatures would agree that it would be better to be healthy than sick, vigorous than weak, or well-fitted than ill-fitted for the role they play on the planet. The same can be said about men; thus, the aim of eugenics is to represent each class or sect by its best specimens; that done, to leave them to work out their common civilization in their own way.
Galton argued that a list of universally desirable qualities, such as health, energy, ability, manliness, and courteous disposition, could be compiled. Special abilities would be assessed highly by the group or community that possessed them; creativity by artists, fearlessness and sense of inquiry by scientists, etc. The idea being that the representatives of these qualities would be better than those who elected them. Thus, the more of these qualities the get passed on, the better society, the nation, and the human race become.
The aim of eugenics is to bring as many influences as can be reasonably employed, so the useful classes in the community can contribute more then their proportion to the next generation. The procedure would be as follows:
Dissemination of a knowledge of the laws of heredity, and promotion of their future study.
Historical inquiry into the rates with which the various classes of society (classified according to civic usefulness.) have contributed to the population at various times, in ancient and modern nations. There is strong reason for believing that national rise and decline is closely connected with this influence.
Systematic collection of facts showing the circumstances under which large and thriving families have most frequently originated, in other words, the conditions of eugenics. Galton described a "thriving family" as a family where the children have gained distinctly superior positions to those of their classmates in early life. "Large" families are those that contain no less than three adult male children. Galton further suggested that records on race, profession, and residence be kept, in order to study the statistics of eugenics.
Influences affecting marriage. Social influences of all kinds have immense power in the end, and they are very various, to ban unsuitable marriages from eugenic point of view. Galton stated that the passion of love appeared so overpowering that it would be foolish to try and direct its course, but that social influences also have an impact on love. Therefore, he posits that banning unions that go against the rules and principles of eugenics would make the practice socially unacceptable, and people wouldn't want to be involved in such marriages.
Persistence in setting forth the national importance of eugenics. There are three stages to be passed through: 1) It must be made familiar as an academic question, until its exact importance has been understood and accepted as a fact. 2) It must be recognized as a subject whose practical development deserves serious consideration. 3) It must be introduced into the national conscience, like a new religion.
Psychology: History and Application
- Darwin's "Natural Science of Babies" (summary)
- A Biological Sketch of an Infant (summary)
- Eugenics: Its Definition, Scope, and Aims (summary)
- Biographical Origins of Francis Galton's Psychology (summary)
- Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression: Returning to Contextual Roots (summary)
- Science, serotonin, and sadness: the biology of antidepressants (summary)
- Feeling connected again (summary)
- Cognitive-behavioral treatment of depression (summary)
- Motivational Interviewing and Self-Determination Theory (summary)
- Self-determination theory and work motivation (summary)
- Twelve tips to stimulate intrinsic motivation in students (summary)
- The influence of the intensity of the stimulus on the length of the reaction time (summary)
- The calibration of minds and machines in late nineteenth-century psychology (summary)
- Clinical Psychology (summary)
- Lightner Witmer: Little-known founder of clinical psychology (summary)
- Alfred Binet – A truly applied psychologist (summary)
- Efficiency of women workers (summary)
- Natural suggestibility in children (summary)
- Lillian M. Gilbreth's contributions to the development of management thought (summary)
- Exploring the Mechanisms of Self-Control Improvement (summary)
- A Social Cognitive View of Self-Regulated Learning About Health (summary)
- Implementation Intentions (summary)
- Self-Regulation Failure: Procrastination (summary)
- Acceptance-Based Therapy and Procrastination (summary)
- A review of the causes and consequences of optimism (summary)
- Gratitude and well-being: A review and theoretical integration (summary)
- Find, Remind, and Bind: The Functions of Gratitude in Everyday Relationships (summary)
- The Promise of Sustainable Happiness (summary)
Psychology: History and Application
Bundle of summaries of articles on the history and application of psychology.
Originally written by Rachel Wong.
- Lees verder over Psychology: History and Application
- 997 keer gelezen
- 1 of 2143
- volgende ›
JoHo can really use your help! Check out the various student jobs here that match your studies, improve your competencies, strengthen your CV and contribute to a more tolerant world
Online access to all summaries, study notes en practice exams
- Check out: Register with JoHo WorldSupporter: starting page (EN)
- Check out: Aanmelden bij JoHo WorldSupporter - startpagina (NL)
How and why would you use WorldSupporter.org for your summaries and study assistance?
- For free use of many of the summaries and study aids provided or collected by your fellow students.
- For free use of many of the lecture and study group notes, exam questions and practice questions.
- For use of all exclusive summaries and study assistance for those who are member with JoHo WorldSupporter with online access
- For compiling your own materials and contributions with relevant study help
- For sharing and finding relevant and interesting summaries, documents, notes, blogs, tips, videos, discussions, activities, recipes, side jobs and more.
Using and finding summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter
There are several ways to navigate the large amount of summaries, study notes en practice exams on JoHo WorldSupporter.
- Use the menu above every page to go to one of the main starting pages
- Starting pages: for some fields of study and some university curricula editors have created (start) magazines where customised selections of summaries are put together to smoothen navigation. When you have found a magazine of your likings, add that page to your favorites so you can easily go to that starting point directly from your profile during future visits. Below you will find some start magazines per field of study
- Use the topics and taxonomy terms
- The topics and taxonomy of the study and working fields gives you insight in the amount of summaries that are tagged by authors on specific subjects. This type of navigation can help find summaries that you could have missed when just using the search tools. Tags are organised per field of study and per study institution. Note: not all content is tagged thoroughly, so when this approach doesn't give the results you were looking for, please check the search tool as back up
- Check or follow your (study) organizations:
- by checking or using your study organizations you are likely to discover all relevant study materials.
- this option is only available trough partner organizations
- Check or follow authors or other WorldSupporters
- by following individual users, authors you are likely to discover more relevant study materials.
- Use the Search tools
- 'Quick & Easy'- not very elegant but the fastest way to find a specific summary of a book or study assistance with a specific course or subject.
- The search tool is also available at the bottom of most pages
Do you want to share your summaries with JoHo WorldSupporter and its visitors?
- Check out: Why and how to add a WorldSupporter contributions
- JoHo members: JoHo WorldSupporter members can share content directly and have access to all content: Join JoHo and become a JoHo member
- Non-members: When you are not a member you do not have full access, but if you want to share your own content with others you can fill out the contact form
Quicklinks to fields of study for summaries and study assistance
Field of study
- All studies for summaries, study assistance and working fields
- Communication & Media sciences
- Corporate & Organizational Sciences
- Cultural Studies & Humanities
- Economy & Economical sciences
- Education & Pedagogic Sciences
- Health & Medical Sciences
- IT & Exact sciences
- Law & Justice
- Nature & Environmental Sciences
- Psychology & Behavioral Sciences
- Public Administration & Social Sciences
- Science & Research
- Technical Sciences
Add new contribution