Origins & Early Life

Margaret Floy Washburn[1] (July 25, 1871 – October 29, 1939) was a leading American psychologist in the early 20th century. She was best known for her experimental work in animal behavior and motor theory development. She was the first woman in the United States to earn a PhD in psychology (1894); the second woman, after Mary Whiton Calkins, to serve as president of the American Psychological Association (1921); and the first woman elected to the Society of Experimental Psychologists. A Review of General Psychology survey, published in 2002, ranked Washburn as the 88th most cited psychologist of the 20th century, tied with John Garcia, James J.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Gibson, David Rumelhart, Louis Leon Thurstone, and Robert S. Woodworth. Born on July 25, 1871, in New York City, she was raised in Harlem by her father Francis, an Episcopal priest, and her mother, Elizabeth Floy, who came from a prosperous New York family. Her ancestors were of Dutch and English descent and were all in America before 1720. Washburn was an only child; she did not appear to have childhood companions her age and spent much of her time with adults or reading.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She learned to read long before she started school; this...

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