His work in eugenics and IQ testing leaves a lasting, complicated legacy.
He is also known for describing the Yerkes-Dodson law with his colleague John Dillingham Dodson.
The Yerkes-Dodson law suggests that there is a relationship between arousal levels and performance.
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The tests were extensively used during this time and were taken by millions of U.S. soldiers.
He attended Ursinus College originally intending to become a medical doctor.
After graduating in 1897, Harvard University offered him a spot doing graduate work in biology.
During his studies at Harvard, he took an interest in animal behavior and began studying comparative psychology.
In 1902, Yerkes earned his Ph.D. in psychology.
Career
In 1917, he was elected President of theAmerican Psychological Association.
The tests had been administered to approximately two million men by the time the war was over.
Contributions to Psychology
Robert Yerkes contributed greatly to the field of comparative psychology.
The lab was later renamed the Yerkes National Primate Research Center.
His work with John D. Dodson led to the development of what is known as the Yerkes-Dodson Law.
This law states that performance increases with arousal, but only up to a certain point.
When arousal levels become too high, performance actually decreases.
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Army alpha and beta tests of intelligence.
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