J. Philippe Rushton

Western University's psychology department adopted an official statement in 2020 declaring that much of Rushton's research was racist and scientifically flawed. The statement identified problems involving racial categories, genetics, r/K theory, funding conflicts and ethics.

State of the evidence

Documented

Rushton received substantial funding from the Pioneer Fund and subsequently became its president from 2002 until his death in 2012. Western noted that he was the fund's largest beneficiary at the time of his death and had directed funding towards certain journal publishers in whose publications he appeared.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rushton and Jensen published a review arguing that the available evidence was more consistent with a model attributing a genetic role to average differences in cognitive abilities between Black and White populations than with an entirely environmental model.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Approximately 40 000 copies of an abridged edition of Race, Evolution, and Behavior were sent to academics. The campaign, funded by the Pioneer Fund, provoked a strong reaction; Transaction Publishers disavowed the abridged version, and Rushton subsequently used his Charles Darwin Research Institute for distribution.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following his public presentations on racial differences in sexuality, criminality, brain characteristics and intelligence, Rushton became the subject of intense controversy in Canada. The Ontario Provincial Police examined whether his publications might fall under hate legislation.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rushton applied a version of r/K selection theory, developed to explain differences between species, to racialised human populations and proposed a hierarchy linking reproduction, sexuality, criminality, parenting and intelligence.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Directly implicated

Rushton argued that a correlated set of racial differences existed in brain size, intelligence, sexuality and behaviour. These claims received extensive media coverage and became emblematic of his theory.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Directly implicated

Western University subsequently recalled that Rushton had sometimes conducted research without appropriate ethics approval. The controversies of 1988 notably involved sensitive surveys carried out among individuals without prior authorisation in accordance with university procedures.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated