Spring 2002 SCCR Newsletter

OBITUARY
Helmut E. Adler, Ph.D.
11-25-1920 to 6-7-2001

Helmut E. Adler, Ph.D., was a highly esteemed psychologist and a recognized scholar by his colleagues. He was respected and admired by his numerous friends and former students. He died of a sudden heart attack at his home on June 7th, 2001. At the time of his death he was investigating the pioneer woman psychologist Lillien Martin, in order to write a chapter for one of the sequences of volumes on the “Portraits of the Pioneers in Psychology, Vol. 5” (Kimble & Wertheimer, Eds, in press.) Among Dr. Adler's major interests was the life of Gustav Theodor Fechner, including his research, his ideas, and his writings. Previously, Dr. Adler had translated the first volume of the Elements of Psychophysics complying with a wish expressed frequently by Professor Edwin G. Boring. The publication commemorated the 100's anniversary of Fechner's publication in 1866. In addition, Dr. Adler wrote about other "Pioneers”; among these was a chapter on Hermann Ludwig Ferdinand von Helmholtz (Kimble & Wertheimer, Eds., 2000).

The Adler Clan in 1997
Center, in blue suit: Helmut; right: Leonore

Of course his involvement with several different pioneers in the field of psychology was not Helmut E. Adler's only interest. One of his earliest areas of research was animal behavior. His dissertation was under Professor Carl J. Warden's guidance on observational learning in cats, which he conducted at Columbia University. This was where he received his B.S. in 1948, his M.A. in 1949, and his Ph.D. in 1952; and in addition he was a certified psychologist. His first professional employment as Assistant at Columbia University started in 1949 and lasted until 1960; for the last 5 years he held the title of Lecturer. However, his major affiliation was with Yeshiva University, which started in 1950. Dr. Helmut E. Adler was not only the Chair of the Department of Psychology, but he was also teaching a diversified curriculum of courses.

He held the title of Professor from 1964 to 1991 when he became Professor Emeritus. Dr. Adler was the founder of the Psi Chi Chapter, of the Honor Society in Psychology at Yeshiva University, where he was the Faculty Advisor for 42 years. He loved teaching and had many wonderful and dedicated students -- in some cases a few students were the second generation of his students. -- As a matter of fact, at the time of his death he looked forward to teaching a course in the Fall Semester 2001.

While Dr. Helmut E. Adler was active writing books and articles, he was also a frequent presenter at professional meetings. The summer months gave him the opportunities to travel and present his papers around the globe, including the United States of America, Canada and Mexico, and also different countries in Europe and Asia, as well as in Australia and New Zealand.

As an additional affiliation Dr. Adler became first a Research Fellow in 1955, and then a Research Associate from 1969 to 1984 at the American Museum of Natural History. It was during this time that he did his famous studies on the migration of birds. One could say that it represented the cutting edge of research using computer simulation of the migratory paths and movements of birds, including whooping cranes and pigeons. In these studies Helmut E. Adler was collaborating with his son Barry P. Adler, a computer expert. Their presentations in 1965 and 1966 were forecasting the use of computers in science.

Yet, Dr. Adler was interested in expanding his research on observational learning. Together with his wife, Dr. Leonore Loeb Adler, they wanted to investigate the earliest time to learn by observation in dogs. While they approached several breeders, none of them supplied the puppies for the study. Therefore they bred the puppies in their own home. They needed several litters. Eventually the results showed that, while puppies are born blind, observational learning occurs as soon as the eyes become functional. (For this study the Adlers used the original "duplicate cage apparatus" from Columbia University.)

The summertime was also the time when the two Drs. Adler pursued their interest in animal behavior. They volunteered their time and efforts to study mostly sea mammals at the Mystic Marinelife Aquarium in Mystic, Ct., from 1976 to 1986. While they started with experiments on observational learning in dolphins, they expanded this research and also tested sealions. Eventually their investigations with dolphins and one belukha whale focused on cognitive research.

After several years the Adlers were accused of dealing with a "Clever Hans Effect," which is the possibility of giving unwitting cues to the experimental animal. Three years after the original experiment they set out on a follow-up study. (See Adler & Adler, 1990.) They used a completely "blind" procedure (which was recorded on video tape). The results clearly showed that there had never been any "Clever Hans Effect".

Dr. Helmut E. Adler shared his wife's interest in cross-cultural psychology and research. They co-authored many studies and presented the results together. Dr. Helmut E. Adler was a scientist of versatile interests and a wealth of knowledge. He was-listed in 'Who’s Who in the East"; he was the recipient of the "Wilhelm Wundt Award" from the Academic Division of the New York State Psychological Association; he was Secretary General of the Section on Comparative Psychology and Animal Behavior of the International Union of Biological Sciences from 1972 to 1986. And, Dr. Adler was on the Advisory Committee, Section of Psychology, of The New York Academy of Sciences from 1972 to 2000. Of course there were other outstanding memberships and affiliations with other organizations.

Dr. Helmut E. Adler is survived by his wife, Dr. Leonore Loeb Adler, and their three children: Barry P. Adler, a computer programmer and systems analyst; Dr. Beverly S. Adler-Gross, a licensed clinical psychologist; and Evelyn R. Agostini a payroll administrator with the Foundation Center. There are seven grandchildren who mourn the loss of their Granddad: Beth, Derek, Lynnette, Annette, Harrison, Taylor, and Stan.

All in all, Dr. Helmut E. Adler fitted the image of what the German people call a "Gelehrter" - a learned man, dedicated to the study of science, and possessing enormous knowledge. In essence, he enjoyed a long, successful and fulfilling life.

Leonore Loeb Adler, Ph.D.
Institute for Cross,-Cultural and Cross-Ethnic Studies,
and Department of Psychology, Molloy College, NY.

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