How Did Mary Whiton Calkins Contribute To Psychology

Natalie Hernandez

Psychology

Ms. Arias

23 August 2017

Mary Whiton Calkins

Mary Whiton Calkins is one of the greatest psychologist of all time. Her contributions have led to many discoveries in the field of psychology. She, according to apa.org, “...published four books and over a hundred papers in psychology and philosophy, and she was ranked 12th in a list of the 50 most eminent psychologists in the United States in 1903.” In addition, she was also able to establish one of the first psychological laboratories in Wellesley College. There she developed a system of self psychology in which she was influenced to write an autobiography. This autobiography was able to impact many others such as John Watson, an American psychologist.

Mary

Goodthearpy.org defines self psychology saying, “Self psychology theory, which rejects Freudian ideology of the role sexual drives play in organization of the psyche, focuses on the development of empathy toward the person in treatment and the exploration of fundamental components of healthy development and growth.” Mary based this new idea on her belief that study of psychology should be convicted by the conscious self. She was able to bring about this idea which today has been developed and used in therapy and other psychological treatments. She also was able to to bring about the idea of personalistic introspective psychology. She defined this, according to spa.org, as “the study of conscious, functioning, experiencing selves that exist in relationship to others.” Over the course of her career, Calkins wrote over a hundred professional papers of topics in psychology and philosophy.” This again later led to a book in which was created by John Watson. She really changed the way psychology is seen today as many of the ideas originated from

If it weren't for her effort and ideas psychology would not be what it is now. She can almost be considered a founder of the study of psychology. Her impact on the field, did not simply influence future psychology but completely made it what is is now. Her intelligence and mastery in the subject contributed the majority of what defines psychology. Psychology according to apa.org is, “...the study of the mind and behavior. The discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience — from the functions of the brain to the actions of nations, from child development to care for the aged.” Her work put emphasis on the literal meaning of