David T. Lykken
David T. Lykken | |
|---|---|
PhD) | |
| Known for | Twin studies, lie detection, set-point theory of happiness |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Psychology, behavioral genetics |
| Institutions | University of Minnesota Deep Springs College |
David Thoreson Lykken (June 18, 1928 – September 15, 2006) was a
twin studies and lie detection
.
Life
Born in
Minneapolis, Minnesota, David Lykken was the youngest of seven children born to Henry G. Lykken and his wife Frances. He joined the United States Navy at 17 and then attended University of Minnesota on the G.I. Bill, earning his Bachelor of Arts (psychology, philosophy and mathematics) 1949, his master's degree in psychology and statistics in 1952, and his doctorate in clinical psychology and neuropsychiatry in 1955. He remained on Minnesota's permanent faculty for his entire career and taught as a visiting professor at Deep Springs College. He was an emeritus professor from 1998 until his death. Lykken's wife, wildlife advocate Harriet (Betts) Lykken, died in 2005. Lykken was survived by three sons: attorney Matthew Lykken, physicist Joseph Lykken, and criminologist Jesse Lykken, as well as ten grandchildren.[1]
Work
Lykken was also known for his work on
traits based on evidence found in identical and fraternal twins. He was a signatory of a collective statement in response to The Bell Curve titled "Mainstream Science on Intelligence", written by Intelligence editor Linda Gottfredson and published in The Wall Street Journal in 1994 and in Intelligence in 1997.[2]
Lykken was the proponent of a set-point theory of happiness, which argues that variation in sense of well-being is half determined by genetics and half determined by circumstances, and has been the subject of international media attention.[3] His research findings suggest that variation in baseline levels of cheerfulness, contentment, and psychological satisfaction is largely a matter of heredity.
He was also a proponent of introducing a scheme whereby every parent or prospective parent would have to obtain a
psychopathy or sociopathy.[4]
He was elected a Fellow of the
personality assessment in the wake of Daubert standard
requirements.
Funding
Some of Lykken's work was funded by the
Qaddafi, the Mafia, whoever—the worse they are, the better I'll like it. I'm doing a social good by taking their money... Any money of theirs that I spend in a legitimate and honorable way, they can't spend in a dishonorable way".[11] Nevertheless, he has praised the theories of eugenic academics associated with or on the board of the pioneer fund, such as Richard Lynn.[12]
See also
References
- ^ Carey, Benedict (September 20, 2006). "David Lykken, 78, Dies; Studied Behavior". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- ^ Gottfredson, Linda (December 13, 1994). Mainstream Science on Intelligence. The Wall Street Journal, p A18.
- ^ Lykken, David. The Heritability of Happiness. Harvard Mental Health Letter.
- ISBN 978-0-275-95822-0
- ^ "In Memoriam: David Lykken (1928-2006)". psychologicalscience.org. 20. Association for Psychological Science. January 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
- )
- PMID 11998853.
- OCLC 39918034.
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). 2008-09-10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-09-10. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
- Minneapolis City Pages, p. 8.
- ^ Lykken, D. (2004). The New Eugenics. Contemporary Psychology, 49, 670-672.
External links
- For Distinguished Contributions to Psychophysiology: David Lykken. Recognition from the Society for Psychophysiological Research (SPR), Psychophysiology, 1999, Oxford University Press.
- Science, Lies, and Controversy: An Epitaph for the Lie Detector (PDF)
- How Can Educated People Continue to be Radical Environmentalists? A Talk by David Lykken (1998); Introduction by John Brockman. Edge'
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| National | |
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