Sidney Durward Shirley Spragg (1909–1995): Obituary

• Published in: The American psychologist 1997-05, Vol.52 (5), p.566-566
• Main Author: Cowen, Emory L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addiction; Human; Male; Psychologists
• ISSN: 0003-066X; 1935-990X
• DOI: 10.1037/0003-066X.52.5.566

Memorializes Shirley Spragg, who after receiving his PhD in experimental psychology from Yale University in 1933, conducted a study, "Morphine Addiction in Chimpanzees," published in 1940 as a Comparative Psychology Monograph. Spragg's study disproved the then-prevalent assumption that only those to whom drug effects could be explained (i.e., humans) could become addicted. His work was an important precursor of the drug self-administration technique, one of the mainstays of modern research on addiction. In the late 1950's, Spragg assumed key local and national administrative roles, including serving as the president of the American Association of Graduate Schools (1973–74) and chairman of the Council of Graduate Schools in the USA (1974–75). Spragg was a consultant in graduate education to the National Science Foundation, the US Office of Education, the National Research Council, and the African-American Graduate Institute. As chairperson of the Advisory Council on Psychology for the New York State Education Department, Spragg helped to develop procedures for certifying psychologists. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)