It is expected that you will have read the assigned chapters and journal articles in order to produce a thoughtful discussion post.
Posts should be no shorter than 500 words.
Discuss at least 2 of the posted questions.
Your post may also include questions, opinions, speculations, reflections, etc.
This week, let's focus on Francis Galton. To learn a bit more about this controversial figure in psychology, read the textbook Chapter 6 & 7, watch these videos (1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isCyyVaGKIM & 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeCKftkNKJ0 ), then reflect:
What statistical tools did Galton develop to measure human characteristics? Describe Galton's research on hereditary genius (aka eminence)
What was the eugenics movement? Have you heard of it before? If you haven't heard of it before this course, why do you think that is?
What do we mean by positive eugenics and negative eugenics? What is the problem with these conceptualizations?
How is eugenics tied to racism and stigmas against the mentally ill? What is the problem with using eugenics to legitimize racist and discriminative policies (e.g., forced sterilizations, Nazi rule)?
Why is it important to learn about the eugenics movement today? Is there a problem with artificially selecting for favorable/unfavorable traits?