Ronal Betancourt

      Ronald Betancourt was a psycologist very influential in the experimental psycology in Chile.

      He first studied veterinary medicine at the University of Chile, later he entered Psychology in the same university, obtaining the title of psychologist the year 1979, and in the year 2003 receives his title of doctor in psychology, being within the first generation of doctors in psychology of the country.

      As a psychologist, he dedicated his work fundamentally to academic life, even though at the beginning of his career he practiced professional work. Betancourt created training spaces for pre-graduate students, such as the "Laboratorio de Psicología del Aprendizaje, which is still active today with the name of "Laboratorio experimental Ronald Betancourt" in his honor.

      Ronald Betancourt was participed of  the "Sociedad Chilena de Etología " and the "Asociación Chilena para la Formación Académica y Profesional del Psicólogo" (Achifaps), futermore of was be the national represent of the "Sociedad Interamericana de Psicología" (SIP).

      As specialist in experimental psychology, he was interested in the learned helplessness and subsequently with the creation of Laboratorio de Psicología del Aprendizaje, Betancourt was focused in the componets Pavlovianos of the behavior addictive, this being his most powerful line of work.

     His work was during a time when experimental psychology in Chile was weakened by the military dictatorship, so Ronald Betancourt became a great influence in this area, and his legacy continues today.