- Sandra Scarr
Sandra Wood Scarr (born August
1936 ) is an Americanpsychology professor.Biography
Born in Maryland, her family followed her father, who was stationed at the
United States Army 's largestchemical weapon facility through much of her childhood. Scarr earned her Ph.D. in psychology in1965 fromHarvard University , where she majored inbehavior genetics .Though she initially had a difficult time finding a job because she had a child, she eventually taught at the University of Maryland, the
University of Pennsylvania , theUniversity of Minnesota , andYale University . In1983 she accepted a position as chair of the psychology department at theUniversity of Virginia , where she remained until retirement. O'Connell AN (2001). "Models of Achievement: Reflections of Eminent Women in Psychology, Vol.3." London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.]In the 1960's, Scarr studied identical and fraternal twins' aptitude and school achievement scores. The study revealed that intellectual development was heavily influenced by genetic ability, especially among disadvantaged children. It also showed that on average, black children demonstrated less genetic and more environmental influence on their intelligence than white children. Scarr also collaborated with
Margaret Williams on a clinical study which demonstrated thatpremature birth infants who receive stimulation gain weight faster and recover faster than babies left in isolation (the practice at that time).After moving to Minnesota, Scarr started working with a colleague,
Richard A. Weinberg , on theMinnesota Transracial Adoption Study . This study concluded that "rather than the home environment having a cumulative impact across development, its influence wanes from early childhood to adolescence." This work is frequently cited in debates aboutrace and intelligence .Scarr served as President of the
Behavior Genetics Association from1985 to1986 . She was then elected to theAmerican Psychological Association 's Board of Directors in1988 , but resigned in1990 Scarr was also a founding member of theAmerican Psychological Society and waschief executive officer ofKinderCare Learning Centers from1994 to1997 .In
1995 , she was a signatory of a collective statement titled "Mainstream Science on Intelligence ", written byLinda Gottfredson and published in the "Wall Street Journal ". Gottfredson, Linda (December 13, 1994).Mainstream Science on Intelligence . "Wall Street Journal ", p A18.] She also wrote a favorable review of "The Bell Curve ". [http://www.mugu.com/cgi-bin/Upstream/Issues/bell-curve/scarr.html Scarr's review of The Bell Curve] ]Scarr retired to
Hawaii where she growskona coffee , quilts and raises Labrador Retrievers.Publications
*Scarr S. "Understanding Development." Harcourt (1986) ISBN 0-15-592864-3
*Scarr S. "Understanding Psychology." Random House Inc (T); 5th edition (1987). ISBN 0-07-555247-7
*Scarr S. "Socialization (Merrill sociology series)." C. E. Merrill Pub. Co (1973). ISBN 0-675-09039-3
*Lande JS, Scarr S. "Caring for Children: Challenge to America." Lea (1989). ISBN 0-8058-0255-X
*Scarr S. "Mother care/other care (A Pelican book)." Penguin Books; 2nd ed edition (1987). ISBN 0-14-022760-1
*Scarr S. "Psychology and Children: Current Research and Practice." Amer Psychological Assn; Reprint edition (1979). ISBN 0-912704-59-4
*Scarr S. "Genetic effects on human behavior: Recent family studies (Master lectures on brain-behavior relationships)." American Psychological Association (1977). ASIN: B0006Y2RV0
*Scarr S. "Genetics and the development of intelligence." University of Chicago Press (1975). ISBN 0-226-35354-0References
External links
* [http://www.webster.edu/~woolflm/scarr.html Sandra Scar biography]
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