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Kurt Lewin and Women in Psychology Written by: By Bob Heckel, Ph.D., ABPP Kurt Lewin today is remembered mostly as one of the 100 most important psychologists of all time. He is known as one of the founders of social psychology, and the mentor for many of the distinguished psychologists of the 20th century. He is less remembered for his recruitment and active support for female students seeking doctoral level training during his years in Berlin, and later in this country. In Europe and the United States during the period from earliest years until the 1970’s many psychology graduate programs did not admit women, or limited their acceptance. Today, virtually all graduate programs in psychology have a majority of females. In the 1920’s four young female, Russian students (Bluma Zeigarnik, Maria Rickers-Ovsiankina, Tamara Dembo, and Gita Birenbaum) unable to find graduate level training in their areas of interest sought training in Germany. Though of initial varied interests and backgrounds all eventually chose to work with Lewin at the Psychological Institute at the University of Berlin. Two migrated to United States and had successful careers. Rickers-Ovsiankina (b.1898 d.1993) became noted for her work in projective techniques, while Dembo (b.92 d.1993) published research on social behaviors, particularly research related to aggression, frustration, and anger. Birenbaum died mid-career (b.03 d.52) and less is known of her successes. Zeigarnik (b.’01 d.1988) returned to Russia, became a psychiatrist and focused on neurology working with major Russian figures in this area: Vygotski, Luria, and others. Because she was forbidden to travel, her work was not known in this country. She remains known today by her earliest research on remembering completed and uncompleted tasks. These women represent only a few of the many women who were mentored by Lewin both in Europe and in the USA. They and others were able to overcome prejudices against Jews, women, social roles, and access to academic positions by their efforts and with the help of those who fought prejudice and remove injustice.
CONGRATULATIONS A Note of Congratulation and Recognition for Dr. Bob Heckel Dr. Robert Heckel received a letter of congratulation from APA’s Norman Anderson PhD, Chief Executive Officer, for being one of 365 psychologists who have been members of APA for 60 or more years. SCPA is so proud to call Dr. Heckel one of its OWN. We sincerely congratulate and thank Dr. Heckel for his dedication and support of our profession.
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