Ssc.wisc.edu.pdf

William H. Sewell reflects on the "Golden Age" of interdisciplinary social psychology that flourished post-World War II in the U.S., lasting roughly 25 years. This period saw significant enthusiasm for integrating social psychology with other disciplines, leading to the establishment of dedicated programs at several universities. However, by the mid-1960s, this movement largely dissipated.

Key Factors for Success and Decline:

1. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Golden Age originated from successful interdisciplinary research during World War II, particularly in soldier adjustment studies led by Samuel Stoffer and involving Rensis Likert's US strategic bombing surveys in Germany and Japan.

2. University Structure & Funding: Programs faced challenges due to the university's traditional departmental structure, which viewed social sciences as weak. Inadequate funding from both universities and federal sources also hindered their growth.

3. Theoretical Advancements: The lack of a major breakthrough in social psychological theory impeded progress. While advancements in research methods were made, they didn't translate into profounder understanding of social phenomena.

4. Comparison with Natural Sciences: In contrast, molecular biology in the natural sciences experienced significant growth due to strong theoretical foundations and funding support, successfully integrating interdisciplinary research into its institutional structure.

Conclusions:

Sewell agrees with James S. House's assessment that the fractionation of social psychology into psychological, symbolic interactionist, and psychological sociology stymied interaction between these fields. He suggests that the original interdisciplinary enthusiasm waned due to structural, funding, theoretical, and methodological factors, leading to the eventual isolation of these disciplines within universities.