Henry W. Riecken

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Henry "Hank" William Riecken, Jr. (born November 11, 1917 in Brooklyn , New York City , New York - † December 27, 2012 in Washington, DC ) was an American sociologist ( social psychology ).

Riecken is known for his work on the psychology of small groups and in particular on cognitive dissonance (with Leon Festinger and Stanley Schachter ). He is also credited with developing the first comprehensive monograph for conducting randomized controlled trials in the United States.

Life

Riecken received his first degree from Harvard University in 1939 and a master's degree in psychology from the University of Connecticut in 1941 . During World War II , he served in the Army Air Forces . In 1950 he received a Ph.D. from Harvard University. in social sciences. He was a lecturer at Harvard University and later a professor at the University of Minnesota .

In 1958 Riecken went to the National Science Foundation , where he became the first director of the department of social sciences. From 1966 to 1971 he was Vice President or President of the Social Science Research Council . In 1972 he received a professorship in behavioral science at the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania , which he held until 1985. In his retirement he worked as a consultant for various organizations, including the Council on Library Resources .

Riecken was elected a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1958 and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1971 . In 1971 he was a founding member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences , which later became the National Academy of Medicine .

Henry W. Ricken was married to Frances Manson Brown († 2011) since 1955; the couple had three children. A foundation from his estate supported libraries in Guatemala .

Fonts (selection)

  • With Leon Festinger and Stanley Schachter: When Prophecy Fails. 1956, Harper, 1956.
  • Riecken et al .: Social Experimentation. Academic Press, 1974.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Book of Members 1780 – present, Chapter R. (PDF; 508 kB) In: American Academy of Arts and Sciences (amacad.org). Retrieved April 12, 2020 (English).
personal data
SURNAME Riecken, Henry W.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Riecken, Henry; Riecken, Henry William; Riecken, Hank
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American sociologist
DATE OF BIRTH November 11, 1917
PLACE OF BIRTH Brooklyn , New York City , New York
DATE OF DEATH December 27, 2012
Place of death Washington, DC