Ramsden, Edmund and Adams, Jon (2008) Escaping the laboratory: the rodent experiment of John B Calhoun and their cultural influence. Working papers on the nature of evidence: how well do 'facts' travel? (23/08). Department of Economic History, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.
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Abstract
In John B. Calhoun’s early crowding experiments, rats were supplied with everything they needed – except space. The result was a population boom, followed by such severe psychological disruption that the animals died off to extinction. The take-home message was that crowding resulted in pathological behaviour – in rats and by extension in humans. For those pessimistic about Earth’s “carrying capacity,” the macabre spectacle of this “behavioural sink” was a compelling symbol of the problems awaiting overpopulation. Calhoun’s work enjoyed considerable popular success. But cultural influence can run both ways. In this paper, we look at how the cultural impact of Calhoun’s experiments resulted in a simplified, popular version of his work coming to overshadow the more nuanced and positive message he wanted to spread, and how his professional reputation was affected by this popular “success.”
| Item Type: | Monograph (Working Paper) |
|---|---|
| Official URL: | http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/economicHistory/ |
| Additional Information: | © 2008 The Authors |
| Divisions: | Economic History |
| Subjects: | Q Science > Q Science (General) H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D204 Modern History |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Feb 2009 17:00 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Sep 2024 20:07 |
| Projects: | Large-Scale Technological Change |
| Funders: | http://www.leverhulme.ac.uk/, Economic and Social Research Council |
| URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/22514 |
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