Robert Chin (Chen Yuli)

1. Robert Chin (Chen Yuli) March 1918 – August 1990 July 28, 2005

2. Zeitgeist and Influences Terry Wood

3. Influence of Historical Antecedents • Chinese-American Heritage • Imperial China • China Divided • GuoMinDang (Taiwan) • Beijing • Communist Party Doctrine • Cultural Revolution

4. Zeitgeist that Influenced Ideas • Early teens--Psychology introduced in Chinese Universities • 1930—Chinese Association of Psychological Testing • 1937—Chinese Psychological Society • 30’s in General—National attention focused on education and language reform to modernize China

5. Zeitgeist continued • Psychology used in learning how people learn the Chinese language • Most Chinese education and experimental psychologists studied at Colombia or University of Chicago.

6. Zeitgeist Continued • Psychology in China before 1949 was western • 1949—National Government moved to Taiwan and many psychologists came to U.S. • After 1949—Chinese government in Beijing modeled itself after Marxist-Leninist psychology with a philosophical base in dialectical materialism—Pavlovianism.

7. Influential Events • WWII • Office of Strategic Services, Counterintelligence • Social psychology ideas used to combat fascism • Many psychologist used in this way during the war. • 1st Lieutenant – Army • Stationed in China and U.S.

8. Influential Events • Racial Discrimination Segregation Prejudice • Holocaust in Germany • Cold War with Russia

9. Achievements and Influences on Psychology Devra McManus

10. Academic Achievements • Academic Achievements: • Columbia University - BA in Psychology 1939 - MA in Social Psychology 1940 - PhD in Social Psychology 1943 • Harvard University - Postdoc 1947 after WWII

11. Academic Employment • Boston University Professor 32 yrs • Director Social Research Center Chinese University Hong Kong 1971 • General Editor of The Journal of Social Issues 1959-1967

12. Affiliations • Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (SPSSI) • American Psychological Association (APA) • Asian-American Psychological Association (AAPA)

13. Author • Co-Authored “The Planning of Change” with Kenneth Benne and Warren Bennis (except 1st edition) • Book - “Psychological Research in Communist China: 1949-1966” with his wife, Ai-Li • Wrote prefaces and articles for The Journal of Social Issues

14. Awards Received • Fulbright Scholar at National Taiwan University 1963 • 1st to receive Distinguished Contribution Award AAPA 1985

15. Influence in Psychology • Professor at Boston University Research: 1-ethnic & minority relationships 2-society & culture 3-attitudes and political behavior 4-public opinion in China 5-personality • Nicknamed himself “Swirler” • Chin Charts

16. Experiential Learning Spring 2003 Boston University Prof. and "President/CEO" Hilda D. Perlitsh, Ph.D. • Perlitsh/PS367  syllabus   • Written reports on your learnings "burned into your consciousness "called •  LearnBurns (LB) are intended for reflecting on your observations and for drawing implications for behavioral choices in organizations for yourself and others.  The concept of LearnBurns (LB) is credited to the late Professor Robert Chin, the designer of this course. 

17. Organizational Theory • Influenced inquiry & practice Application of social psychology to: 1-organizational settings 2-intergroup behavior • Founder Human Relations Center Boston University • 5th Edition: The Planning of Change • Lecturer and Consultant • People’s Republic of China • Introduced organizational theory

18. Civil Rights Legislation • Journal of Social Issue (SPSSI) • Research on Intelligence Testing -Otto Klineberg, at Columbia University • 1950 SPSSI organized social scientist -1951 Committee of Intergroup Relations Statement aided in appellate process with Supreme Court • 1954 Footnote 11 Brown v.Board of Education of Topeka • Workshops & Lectures on anti-Semitism and racism

19. Brown v. Board of Ed. Of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 • U.S. Supreme Court Decided May 17, 1954 • Whatever may have been the extent of psychological knowledge at the time of Plessy v. Ferguson, this finding is amply supported by modern authority. 11 Any language [347 U.S. 483, 495]   in Plessy v. Ferguson contrary to this finding is rejected. • Segregation of white and Negro children in the public schools of a State solely on the basis of race…To separate them from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.

20. Value of Work Today • Robert Chin Memorial Award (SPSSI) - Research/Scholarship in area of child abuse -2006 APA President Dr Koocher, recipient, credits Chin for guidance • Asian-American Psychology Award • Reference on University Syllabus -Ohio State – Conflict Management in Community - Vanguard University – Managing Organizational Conflict

21. Theory and Research Jen Russell

22. Dissertation Allport’s J-Curve Hypothesis Arrival times of college students to class Looked at shape of distributions of arrival times Conformity existed in total group and in distribution of individual averages Prohibitive conformity Experimentation, Research, and Clinical Data

23. Experimentation, Research, and Clinical Data • Characteristics of a good theory of change as outlined by Chin • Variables that are alterable • Defines the roles of a change-agent and a client system • Takes into account the cost of usage • Reliable basis of diagnosing the strength and weakness of the conditions facing the client system • “Self-Takeoff Points” • Can be communicated with a minimum of distortion • Able to assess its own appropriateness for different client systems

24. The Planning of Change Section 1.1 Outlines the history of the study of change Section 1.2 3 strategies for changing Rational-empirical Re-educative and normative, or collaborative Coercive-power Section 3.1 Interaction of environment and individual Texture of an environment Aspects of the environment that are important for change Means Patterns Nutriments Information Feedback loops Experimentation, Research, and Clinical Data

25. Experimentation, Research, and Clinical Data • Applied Behavioral Science and Innovation, Diffusion, and Adoption” • 5 approaches to applied behavioral science • “Merely basic science communicated simply and with a minimum of jargon” • Application of research • Two levels of practitioners • Link science and practice • How knowledge is applied

26. Weaknesses Way ahead of his time Not a good writer Criticisms of his book on research in China Applicability of theory Theory was not innovative Theory not clearly defined Did not meet his own criteria Strengths Way ahead of his time Excellent motivator Complexity of his writings and his theory Strengths and Weaknesses of Chin’s Theory

27. Personal Obstacles and Integrated Summary Patty Byrd

28. His Childhood • Born to an immigrant father from Toishan, China • Lacked Chinese-American influence • Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882

29. Lack of Acknowledgement • Worked closely with Otto Klineberg • Professor Len Saxe reported “he was not a writer” • Primary method for conveying his ideas was teaching

30. Where did he fit in? • American name: Robert Chin • Chinese name: Chen Yuli • Attempted to share his organizational theory with China • His theory went against the Communist Party Doctrine of the time

31. Accomplishments • President of SPSSI • Assisted in founding the AAPA • Co-founded the Human Relations Center at Boston University • Co-Authored the book: The Planning of Change

32. In Conclusion: His Goals • Resolve problems between racial, religious, and national groups • Inspire students and society to rethink cultural problems • Encourage people to evaluate themselves and possibly make changes