November 26th, 2009 at 7pm

Speaker

Dr. Anton Yasnitsky (York University, Psychology)

Title

Psychology's Rise to Power: The Case of Soviet Behavioural and Human Sciences in the Interwar Period

Abstract

This talk is loosely based on the materials of my doctoral dissertation and my presentation will consist of two parts:

First, I will try to make sense of the multitude of psychoneurological disciplines and rival theories that emerged in the Soviet Union in the 1920s, lavishly funded by the new Bolshevik government. I will present the process of the institutionalization of psychology in the Soviet Union in the interwar period as a history of the establishment of disciplinary boundaries of the discipline and, on the other hand, the interspecies struggle between a number of scientific theories and disciplines such as reflexology, reactology, Pavlov's theory of higher nervous activity, paedology, psychotechnics (industrial psychology) and psychohygiene (mental hygiene), many of which had originated in the Western context.

In the second half of our meeting I will briefly present my recent study on internationalization of science in the interwar period and invite the audience to reflect on how the Soviet case can be generalized to the history of psychology as a scientific discipline in the West.

Co-Sponsor

Ryerson University's Department of Psychology

Directions

Ryerson University

Address: South Bond Building located at 105 Bond Street.

TTC: Take the Yonge-University subway line to Dundas station. Walk East on Dundas Street East to Bond Street, and then North on Bond Street to 105 Bond Street.

Driving: Drive south on Yonge. Turn left on Dundas Street East until you reach Bond Street. For driving directions from York University click here.

Parking: There is Green P parking at Dundas Street East and Bond Street.

Map

Special Instructions: Please plan to arrive for this talk between 6:45pm and 7:00pm. A security pass is required for entry into the building and someone will be on hand to allow individuals in just prior to the talk.