Robert Yerkes
Early Life and Education
Robert Mearns Yerkes was born on May 26, 1876, in Breadysville, Pennsylvania. He was the eldest of seven children. His father, Silas Yerkes, was a farmer and his mother, Susanna Mearns Yerkes, was a schoolteacher. Yerkes had a strong interest in nature and animals from an early age, which would later influence his career in psychology and primatology.
Yerkes received his early education at the local public school. He later attended the West Chester State Normal School, where he excelled in his studies. In 1892, he enrolled at Ursinus College, where he developed an interest in psychology. He graduated in 1897 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Yerkes continued his education at Harvard University, where he studied under prominent psychologists such as William James and Hugo Münsterberg. He received his Ph.D. in psychology from Harvard in 1902. His doctoral dissertation, titled "The Dancing Mouse: A Study in Animal Behavior," marked the beginning of his lifelong interest in comparative psychology.
Career
After completing his Ph.D., Yerkes accepted a position as an instructor at Harvard. He taught psychology and conducted research on animal behavior. In 1917, he was appointed as a professor of psychobiology, a term he coined to describe the study of the biological basis of behavior.
During World War I, Yerkes served as a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He developed the Army Alpha and Army Beta tests, which were used to assess the intellectual capabilities of military recruits. These tests marked the beginning of large-scale intelligence testing in the United States.
In 1924, Yerkes established the Yale Laboratories of Primate Biology in Orange Park, Florida. This was the first laboratory in the United States dedicated to the study of non-human primates. Yerkes conducted extensive research on primate behavior, cognition, and social structure at this facility.
Yerkes is also known for his work on the comparative study of behavior. He believed that studying the behavior of non-human animals could provide insights into human behavior. This approach, known as comparative psychology, is now a major subfield of psychology.
Contributions to Psychology
Yerkes made significant contributions to several areas of psychology, including comparative psychology, psychobiology, and intelligence testing.
His work on the Army Alpha and Beta tests during World War I had a major impact on the field of psychometrics. These tests were among the first to use multiple-choice questions, a format that is now widely used in educational and psychological testing.
Yerkes' research on primate behavior at the Yale Laboratories of Primate Biology also had a lasting impact. His studies on the social behavior of primates contributed to our understanding of primate and human social structures.
In the field of comparative psychology, Yerkes' research on animal behavior helped to establish the study of animal cognition as a legitimate area of scientific inquiry.
Personal Life and Legacy
Yerkes married Ada Watterson in 1905. They had no children. Yerkes was known for his dedication to his work and his passion for the study of animal behavior.
Yerkes died on February 3, 1956, in New Haven, Connecticut. His work continues to influence the fields of psychology, primatology, and psychometrics.
The Yerkes National Primate Research Center, established in 1930 and now part of Emory University, is named in his honor. The center continues to be a leading institution in the study of primate behavior and cognition.
