In psychology and criminology, Differential K theory is a debunked hypothesis first proposed by Canadian psychologist J. Philippe Rushton in 1985,[1] which attempts to apply r/K selection theory to human races.[2] According to Rushton, this theory explains race differences in fertility, IQ, criminality, and sexual anatomy and behavior.[3] The theory also hypothesizes that a single factor, the "K factor", affects multiple population statistics Rushton referred to as "life-history traits".[4] It has been criticized as a key example of scientific racism and devoid of empirical basis.[5][6]
- ^ Rushton, J. Philippe (January 1985). "Differential K theory: The sociobiology of individual and group differences". Personality and Individual Differences. 6 (4): 441–452. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(85)90137-0.
- ^ "Statement from the Department of Psychology regarding research conducted by Dr. J. Philippe Rushton". Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario.
- ^ Weizmann, Fredric; Wiener, Neil I.; Wiesenthal, David L.; Ziegler, Michael (1990). "Differential K theory and racial hierarchies". Canadian Psychology. 31 (1): 1–13. doi:10.1037/h0078934.
- ^ Templer, Donald I. (October 2008). "Correlational and factor analytic support for Rushton's differential K life history theory". Personality and Individual Differences. 45 (6): 440–444. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2008.05.010.
- ^ Winston, Andrew S. (29 May 2020). "Scientific Racism and North American Psychology". Oxford Research Encyclopedias: Psychology. doi:10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.516. ISBN 978-0-19-023655-7.
- ^ Weizmann, Frederic; Wiener, Neil I.; Wiesenthal, David L.; Ziegler, Michael (1989). "Scientific racism in contemporary psychology". International Journal of Dynamic Assessment & Instruction. 1 (1): 81–93.