-rises in 1880s with revelations of Biological Evolution > Lamarckism
-idea that people and their children evolve from their habit becomes adopted to human society
-and thus, to "evolve" a people into the right type, several generations of people need to be forced to adopt certain customs
-becomes very influential theory from this era
-used to justify the Protectorate Schools established for Aborigines by the British
-only eclipsed in 1940s
-but takes longer for it to totally dissipate