Women in Psychology - Margaret Washburn
Women in Psychology – Margaret Floy Washburn
PSY/310
May 23, 2011
Women in Psychology Margaret Floy Washburn was an accomplished and highly-recognized woman within the field of psychology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her interests were equally divided between science and philosophy and thus, Washburn made the decision “…to pursue “the wonderful new science of experimental psychology…” (Goodwin, 2008, pg. 200, para. 2). Under the tutelage of E. B. Titchener, a British psychologist, Washburn became the first woman to receive a doctorate in psychology in the year 1894 – a monumental feat at the time. Her field of study was “…of the effects of visual imagery on tactile sensitivity” (Goodwin, 2008, pg. 200, para. 2). Washburn’s career included “…an APA presidency in 1921, co-editorship of the American Journal of Psychology…and election to the prestigious National Academy of Science in 1931” (Goodwin, 2008, pg. 200, para. 3). With insight into Margaret Floy Washburn’s life and her reasoning behind the pursuit of psychology as a separate and formal science and discipline, her status as a pioneer in the field is indeed warranted.
Washburn’s Theoretical Perspective Margaret Washburn was recognized primarily for her work in animal psychology. The Animal Mind, which she published in 1908, was the first book by an American in this area of study and remained the customary comparative psychology manual for over 25 years. The Animal Mind was a compilation of experimental studies exploring the existence of conscious processes such as learning and attention in animals. “It [The Animal Mind] was notable for its exclusion of evidence based solely on anecdotal data; Washburn included only the results of experimental research” (Goodwin, 2008, pg. 200, para. 4). In her writings, Washburn developed her theory of consciousness in depth and investigated various topics such as distinctive differences, color vision in animals, visual preferences for colors and
PSY/310
May 23, 2011
Women in Psychology Margaret Floy Washburn was an accomplished and highly-recognized woman within the field of psychology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Her interests were equally divided between science and philosophy and thus, Washburn made the decision “…to pursue “the wonderful new science of experimental psychology…” (Goodwin, 2008, pg. 200, para. 2). Under the tutelage of E. B. Titchener, a British psychologist, Washburn became the first woman to receive a doctorate in psychology in the year 1894 – a monumental feat at the time. Her field of study was “…of the effects of visual imagery on tactile sensitivity” (Goodwin, 2008, pg. 200, para. 2). Washburn’s career included “…an APA presidency in 1921, co-editorship of the American Journal of Psychology…and election to the prestigious National Academy of Science in 1931” (Goodwin, 2008, pg. 200, para. 3). With insight into Margaret Floy Washburn’s life and her reasoning behind the pursuit of psychology as a separate and formal science and discipline, her status as a pioneer in the field is indeed warranted.
Washburn’s Theoretical Perspective Margaret Washburn was recognized primarily for her work in animal psychology. The Animal Mind, which she published in 1908, was the first book by an American in this area of study and remained the customary comparative psychology manual for over 25 years. The Animal Mind was a compilation of experimental studies exploring the existence of conscious processes such as learning and attention in animals. “It [The Animal Mind] was notable for its exclusion of evidence based solely on anecdotal data; Washburn included only the results of experimental research” (Goodwin, 2008, pg. 200, para. 4). In her writings, Washburn developed her theory of consciousness in depth and investigated various topics such as distinctive differences, color vision in animals, visual preferences for colors and
References: Goodman, E. S. (1980). Margaret F. Washburn (1871-1939): First Woman Ph.D. in Psychology. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 5(1), 69. Retrieved May 22, 2011 from EBSCOhost. Goodwin, C. J. (2008). American Pioneers. A History of Modern Psychology (3rd ed.). Ch. 6, pg. 200. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. Rodkey, E. (2010). Psychology’s Feminist Voices. Women Past – Profile: Margaret Floy Washburn. Retrieved May 20, 2011, from http://www.feministvoices.com/margaret-floy- washburn/ Scarborough, E. (2000). Washburn, Margaret Floy. In A. E. Kazdin, A. E. Kazdin (Eds.) , Encyclopedia of psychology, Vol. 8 (pp. 230-232). Washington, DC New York, NY USUS: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/10523-092. Retrieved May 20, 2011, from EBSCOhost.