The reputation of Kenneth James William Craik.

Abstract

Reputation is a familiar concept in everyday life and in a range of academic disciplines. There have been studies of its formation, its content, its management, its diffusion, and much else besides. This article explores the reputation of the Cambridge psychologist Kenneth Craik (1914-1945). Having examined something of Craik's life and work and the content of his reputation, the article concentrates on the functions that Craik's reputation has served, particularly for psychology and related disciplines. The major functions of that reputation are identified as being a legitimation and confirmation of disciplinary boundaries and discontinuities in the period shortly after World War II, an exemplification of how to be a modern scientist and of the values to embrace, a reinforcement of science as having a national dimension, an affirmation of psychology as a science that can serve national needs, and a creation of shared identities through commemoration. The article concludes that studies of reputations can illuminate the contexts in which they emerge and the values they endorse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved).

Middle class sprawl: Locating the psychologesque in the history of psychology.

“…Elite psychologists' obituaries can be accessed readily from multiple sources in print and online. And, because they are relatively long and detailed and composed by equally or more eminent professional peers following specific guidelines, for instance those of the American Psychologist (Pickren, 2005), their legacy of influence can reasonably accurately be assessed from them in terms of peer recognition and reputation (Collins, 2013). The obituary of the typical elite psychologist features academic background and a summary record of professional contributions.…”

An Asymmetric Relationship: The Spirit of Kenneth Craik and the Work of Warren McCulloch

“…It is also apparent that McCulloch did much to promote Craik's posthumous reputation and to contribute to his almost mythical status (Zangwill, 1980). Craik's high reputation was constructed soon after his death and served to legitimate new domains, by giving them a founding father, to exemplify the qualities of a modern scientist, and to promote ideas of science as an enterprise in service of the nation (Collins, in press). By contributing to Craik's reputation, McCulloch also contributed to these effects.…”