Mary Calkins
Introduction
Biography
Mary Whiton Calkins was the oldest of five children, born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 30, 1863. A Newton High School graduate, Miss Calkins went on to study at Smith College, earning two degrees, and later travelled overseas to Europe so she could study at Leipzig University. Upon her return to America, Calkins became a Greek tutor at Wellesley College. Calkins furthered her educational boundaries by studying at Harvard University, completing all courses available that would earn her a Ph.D.. However, in 1896 the school still refused to grant degrees such as that to women, so she never was titled a doctor, although many of her psychology tutors deemed her one of the most influential psychologists of her time. In 1890, six year before she “earned” her degree, she became a psychology instructor at Wellesley College and established a laboratory. It was the first psychology lab in any woman’s college of the time. In addition to these great successes, she was also the first female president of the American Philosophical Association, being elected in 1918. Mary Calkins retired in 1929 to Newton and passed away on February 26, 1930 of a serious illness. Her amazing studies in the field of psychology are not forgotten and are still studied today.
Theory of Psychology
Self Psychology Calkins believed that the most important aspect of psychology was the study of oneself. This became her main topic of study in 1900. According to Calkins’ studies (n.d.), there were three different parts that made up the self. These parts are the self, the object, and the self’s attitude towards the object. When thinking about real life, this way of thinking can be related to any basic situation. In Calkins’ later studies, she coined the term Absolute Personalism, which related to the way the self thinks. While other psychologists of the time were focused on behavior and how to control behavior, Calkins was focused the self’s reactions and connections to the
Biography
Mary Whiton Calkins was the oldest of five children, born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 30, 1863. A Newton High School graduate, Miss Calkins went on to study at Smith College, earning two degrees, and later travelled overseas to Europe so she could study at Leipzig University. Upon her return to America, Calkins became a Greek tutor at Wellesley College. Calkins furthered her educational boundaries by studying at Harvard University, completing all courses available that would earn her a Ph.D.. However, in 1896 the school still refused to grant degrees such as that to women, so she never was titled a doctor, although many of her psychology tutors deemed her one of the most influential psychologists of her time. In 1890, six year before she “earned” her degree, she became a psychology instructor at Wellesley College and established a laboratory. It was the first psychology lab in any woman’s college of the time. In addition to these great successes, she was also the first female president of the American Philosophical Association, being elected in 1918. Mary Calkins retired in 1929 to Newton and passed away on February 26, 1930 of a serious illness. Her amazing studies in the field of psychology are not forgotten and are still studied today.
Theory of Psychology
Self Psychology Calkins believed that the most important aspect of psychology was the study of oneself. This became her main topic of study in 1900. According to Calkins’ studies (n.d.), there were three different parts that made up the self. These parts are the self, the object, and the self’s attitude towards the object. When thinking about real life, this way of thinking can be related to any basic situation. In Calkins’ later studies, she coined the term Absolute Personalism, which related to the way the self thinks. While other psychologists of the time were focused on behavior and how to control behavior, Calkins was focused the self’s reactions and connections to the