Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

Which authors helped introduce social psychology in America in 1098?

1. John Dewey and William James

2. McDougall and Ross

3. Freud and Adler

4. Skinner and Bandura

The correct answer is: McDougall and Ross

The correct answer is based on the significant contributions of McDougall and Ross in establishing social psychology as a field in America during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. McDougall’s work, particularly his book "An Introduction to Social Psychology" published in 1908, formally introduced many foundational concepts of social behavior and individual psychology to an American audience. Similarly, William McDougall and Edward A. Ross were pivotal in emphasizing the link between social processes and individual behaviors. In contrast, while figures like John Dewey and William James were influential in psychology and philosophy during that time, their primary focus was not specifically on social psychology as a distinct discipline. Freud and Adler were foundational figures in psychoanalysis, concentrating on the internal psyche rather than the social influences on behavior. Skinner and Bandura were key figures in behaviorism and social learning theory, but their contributions came much later and fall outside the early context of social psychology's establishment. Thus, the clear identification of McDougall and Ross as key figures in introducing social psychology is substantiated by their early and focused work in this specific area.