Journey to Robbers Cave

73 South College Street,Akron OH 44325

26 April, 2022

Description

Could a boys' summer camp reveal the solution to global conflict? Explore the famous Robbers Cave studies at this free event. On the heels of WWII, just over 70 years ago, a team of psychologists boldly set out to uncover the solution to global conflict. Their lab? Boys’ summer camps. Their goal? Set 11- and 12-year-old boys against one another in order to discover what, if anything, could restore peace. The result? One of psychology's most enduring and controversial series of studies, known collectively as the “Robbers Cave studies.” We recently pored through our archival collection to tell the story of the camps and the psychologists who led them. The story is featured in a newly released print edition titled “Brain Meets World” published by Behavioral Scientist. Join us on Tuesday, April 26th from 6:00 pm - 7:00pm pm ET for a live event that explores the Robbers Cave studies through unique artifacts and archival materials. The event will showcase original film footage and rarely heard audio recordings from the experimental camps along with a conversation between CCHP Assistant Director, Dr. Jennifer Bazar, and Behavioral Scientist and “Brain Meets World” Editor, Evan Nesterak. Bazar and Nesterak will explore the bold vision for the experiment, its methods, ethics, and results – and what lessons from the studies endure as we witness conflict flare up around the globe once again. A reception will follow the event from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm with light refreshments and a chance to be the first to see the new pop-up exhibit. Admission to the event and Museum are free. Donations are always gratefully appreciated and copies of “Brain Meets World” will be available for purchase. About Evan NesterakEvan Nesterak is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Behavioral Scientist, a nonprofit digital and print magazine that examines the world through the science of human behavior. Previously, he served as a research assistant for author Dan Heath on Upstream. He also worked with Angela Duckworth at the University of Pennsylvania on character development research and led the Mindset Assessment Project, an initiative designed to bring rigorous psychological research into the world of sport. He counts Ohio as home. He grew up outside of Cleveland, before moving to Colorado, and has family all around the state. He currently lives in Prague, Czech Republic. About Dr. Jennifer BazarDr. Jennifer Bazar is the Assistant Director of the Cummings Center for the History of Psychology. An historian of psychology by training, her research has focused primarily on the history of mental health institutionalization in the 19th and 20th centuries. Bazar’s research is largely informed by archives and material culture which led her into a career in museums and public history. Health & SafetyVisit our health and safety page for up-to-date information on the Cummings Center's safety protocols: https://uakron.edu/chp/museum/covid-19-precautions Please stay home if you do not feel well, have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or had direct contact with an individual diagnosed with or suspected to have COVID-19. AccessibilityA wheelchair accessible ramp is located on the northeast side of the building, near the main entrance. An interior elevator provides access to the Postcard Library, located on the third floor. A wheelchair is also kept on-site and is available for loan to those visiting the museum and archives. For more information, see our accessibility page: https://uakron.edu/chp/about-us/accessibility. LocationThe Postcard Library is located on the 4th floor of the Cummings Center in the Institute for Human Science and Culture. The street address is 73 S. College Street Akron, Ohio 44325-4302 (on the corner of Mill and College Streets). ParkingA small parking lot is adjacent to the Cummings Center, on College St. There are also parking meters located along College St. or visitor parking available in Lot 30 (corner of College and Market streets). UA staff, faculty, and student parking is available in Lot 40, off Mill St. About Behavioral ScientistBehavioral Scientist is a nonprofit digital and print magazine that offers readers original, thought-provoking reports from the front lines of behavioral science. Born out of the labs and offices of leading researchers, practitioners, and journalists, their mission is to help readers make sense of today’s world through a deeper understanding of human behavior. They publish articles on humanity’s most enduring questions and today’s most pressing challenges, with a focus on original columns and commentaries. Contributors include Nobel Prize and MacArthur winners, best selling authors, and leading academic and applied scientists. About the Cummings CenterThe Drs. Nicholas & Dorothy Cummings Center for the History of Psychology (CCHP) cares for, provides access to, and interprets the historical record of psychology and related human sciences. In addition to the Institute, the Center is the home to the Archives of the History of American Psychology (AHAP) and the National Museum of Psychology (NMP). Visit https://uakron.edu/chp/