--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is certain that the study of human…" description: "\"It is certain that the study of human psychology, if it were undertaken exclusively in prisons, would also lead to misrepresentation and absurd general..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/jacques-yves-cousteau-9353_absurd_it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-ps_283366.jpg" --- # It is certain that the study of human psychology, if it… ![“It is certain that the study of human psychology, if it were undertaken exclusively in prisons, would also lead to misrepresentation and absurd generalizations.” quote by Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/jacques-yves-cousteau-9353_absurd_it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-ps_283366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/jacques-yves-cousteau-9353_absurd_it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-ps_283366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/jacques-yves-cousteau-9353_absurd_it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-ps_283366.jpg) > “It is certain that the study of human psychology, if it were undertaken exclusively in prisons, would also lead to misrepresentation and absurd generalizations.” [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Studying psychology only in prisons skews understanding, leading to inaccurate and exaggerated conclusions about human behavior. **In simple terms:** Prison-only studies misrepresent humanity. Key Takeaway Broaden research contexts for accurate insights. Themes psychology research methodology bias ethics Mood cautious analytical Type critical academic When to use this quote - academic research - policy making - clinical practice Key Concepts sampling bias overgeneralization contextual validity Questions to Reflect On - How does environment shape psychological findings? - What alternative settings could improve validity? A Different Perspective Limited to extreme environments, may miss broader patterns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Misrepresentation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misrepresentation/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [“Causing any damage or harm to one party in order to help another party is not justice, and likewise, attacking all feminine conduct \[in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-de-pizan/causing-any-damage-or-harm-to-one-party-in-order-to-help-another/) [Christine de Pizan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-de-pizan/) > [Darwin based his theory on generalizations that were strictly empirical. You can go out and see that organisms do vary, that variations are inherited,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-williams/darwin-based-his-theory-on-generalizations-that-were-strictly/) [George C. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-williams/) > [Honestly, what can really be said about 'the Jewish people' as a whole? Is it not a lamentable stereotype to make large generalizations about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/honestly-what-can-really-be-said-about-the-jewish-people-as-a-whole/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [Generalizations about the "way women are" and estimates of what is appropriate for most women no longer justify denying opportunity to women whose talent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/generalizations-about-the-way-women-are-and-estimates-of-what-is/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [I am fearful, or suspicious, of generalizations... They cannot guide me reliably in making decisions about particular individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-am-fearful-or-suspicious-of-generalizations-they-cannot-guide-me/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [...there are special sciences not because of the nature of our epistemic relation to the world, but because of the way the world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-fodor/there-are-special-sciences-not-because-of-the-nature-of-our-epistemic/) [Jerry Fodor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-fodor/) > [“It is one of the striking generalizations of biochemistry—which surprisingly is hardly ever mentioned in the biochemical text-books—that the twenty amino acids and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-crick/it-is-one-of-the-striking-generalizations-of-biochemistry-which/) [Francis Crick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-crick/) > [“The problem with generalizations is that there are always special cases under which they don't apply, except for when there aren't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-himself/the-problem-with-generalizations-is-that-there-are-always-special/) John Himself > [All generalizations are inaccurate, including this one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/all-generalizations-are-inaccurate-including-this-one/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Usually, thinking may end up widen our imaginations that creates nonsense generalizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glemar/usually-thinking-may-end-up-widen-our-imaginations-that-creates/) Glemar > [“Over against these generalizations we raise no objection, but there are many cases, in practical life, of doubtful nature. An act of charity, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/over-against-these-generalizations-we-raise-no-objection-but-there/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“Any general statement is like a cheque drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/any-general-statement-is-like-a-cheque-drawn-on-a-bank-its-value/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [“In displaying the psychology of your characters, minute particulars are essential. God save us from vague generalizations!" ( Letter to Alexander Chekhov , May 10, 1886)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/in-displaying-the-psychology-of-your-characters-minute-particulars/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“All generalizations are questionable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandor-schuman/all-generalizations-are-questionable/) Sandor Schuman ## More by Jacques Yves Cousteau > [With earth's burgeoning human population to feed we must turn to the sea with understanding and new technology. We need to farm it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/with-earth-s-burgeoning-human-population-to-feed-we-must-turn-to-the/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [We must go and see for ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/we-must-go-and-see-for-ourselves/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [We are human beings, and we have faith, and we have hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/we-are-human-beings-and-we-have-faith-and-we-have-hope/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [And let us remember too that life, in its exuberance, always succeeds in overflowing the narrow limits within which man thinks he can confine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/and-let-us-remember-too-that-life-in-its-exuberance-always-succeeds/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [I experimented with all possible maneuvers-loops, somersaults and barrel rolls. I stood upside down on one finger and burst out laughing, a shrill, distorted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/i-experimented-with-all-possible-maneuvers-loops-somersaults-and/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [However fragmented the world, however intense the national rivalries, it is an inexorable fact that we become more interdependent every day. I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/however-fragmented-the-world-however-intense-the-national-rivalries/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/if-we-go-on-the-way-we-have-the-fault-is-our-greed-and-if-we-are-not/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [The reason I love the sea I cannot explain - it's physical. When you dive you begin to feel like an angel. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/the-reason-i-love-the-sea-i-cannot-explain-it-s-physical-when-you/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [If human civilization is going to invade the waters of the earth, then let it be first of all to carry a message of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/if-human-civilization-is-going-to-invade-the-waters-of-the-earth-then/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [No sooner does man discover intelligence than he tries to involve it in his own stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/no-sooner-does-man-discover-intelligence-than-he-tries-to-involve-it-2/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [The impossible missions are the only ones which succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/the-impossible-missions-are-the-only-ones-which-succeed/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/the-sea-the-great-unifier-is-man-s-only-hope-now-as-never-before-the/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [We must alert and organise the world's people to pressure world leaders to take specific steps to solve the two root causes of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/we-must-alert-and-organise-the-world-s-people-to-pressure-world/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [We must plant the sea and herd its animals using the sea as farmers instead of hunters. That is what civilization is all about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/we-must-plant-the-sea-and-herd-its-animals-using-the-sea-as-farmers/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [Our society is turning toward more and more needless consumption. It is a vicious circle that I compare to cancer . . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/our-society-is-turning-toward-more-and-more-needless-consumption-it/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) [Explore all 73 Jacques Yves Cousteau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) ## More Absurd quotes > [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/) [Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/) > [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; & the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/) [Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/) > [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/) [Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/) > [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-was-once-part-of-a-christmas-cabaret-i-sang-i-saw-mommy-kissing/) [Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/) > [Solitude produces originality, bold and astonishing beauty, poetry. But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) [Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is certain that the study of human psychology, if it were undertaken exclusively in prisons, would also lead to misrepresentation and absurd generalizations.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jacques Yves Cousteau" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-psychology-if-it-were/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Absurd" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-psychology-if-it-were/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/jacques-yves-cousteau-9353_absurd_it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-ps_283366.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/jacques-yves-cousteau-9353_absurd_it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-ps_283366.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc9/jacques-yves-cousteau-9353_absurd_it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-ps_283366.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is certain that the study of human psychology, if it were undertaken exclusively in prisons, would also…” — Jacques Yves Cousteau", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jacques Yves Cousteau", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is certain that the study...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-psychology-if-it-were/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/it-is-certain-that-the-study-of-human-psychology-if-it-were/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```