David Krech

David Krech (March 27, 1909 – July 14, 1977) was an American experimental and social psychologist who lectured predominately at the University of California, Berkeley. Throughout his education and career endeavors, Krech was with many psychologists including Edward Tolman, Karl Lashley, and Rensis Likert. This was the first federal court case that allowed a social psychologist to provide expert testimony. Toward the end of his research career, Krech collaborated with Melvin Calvin, Mark R. Rosenzweig, Edward L. Bennett, and Marian Diamond to research the relationship between brain chemistry and behavior in rats as well as the anatomical neuroplasticy in the rat cortex.

Personal life David Krech was born as Yitzhok-Eizik Krechevsky on March 27, 1909, in Švenčionys (now in modern Lithuania, then in the Russian Empire), to Joseph Krechevsky and Sarah Rabinowitz. He was the second youngest of nine children, one of whom died before adulthood. In May 1913, when Krech was 4-years-old, his Jewish family emigrated to New Britain, Connecticut from Lithuania. There, he attended elementary and secondary school, where he was a very good student and soon became the self-proclaimed "best educated American" in his family. As a child, Krech enjoyed writing short stories, and he studied in a Hebrew school, learning Hebrew and how to read in Yiddish. He had a passion for the Hebrew language and literature that stayed with him throughout his life, even after he rejected formal religion. On September 17, 1943, Krech married Hilda Sidonie Gruenberg in Washington D.C. With Hilda, Krech had one child, Richard, who would raise Krech's three grandchildren. David Krech died at his home in Berkeley, California, on July 14, 1977, at the age of 67. The team continued to publish together until 1972 when Krech retired from the University of California, Berkeley.

Publications

Books Theory and Problems of Social Psychology (1948) was written when Krech returned to University of California, Berkeley while he was collaborating with Richard Crutchfield. This book gave social psychology more of an abstract basis in both the psychology of perception and Gestalt psychology. Individual in Society (1962)

Articles For a complete list of article publications from 1932 to 1968 by Krech, see David Krech: Distinguished Scientific Contribution Awards.

Awards Citation of Achievement from New York University Award from the International Forum of the Neurological Organization Certificate of Merit from the Mathematics and Science Center In 1970, Krech was awarded the APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions to Psychology Honorary doctorate from University of Oslo Miller Research Professorship at Berkeley President of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Two Fulbright fellowships