In a study positioned as a sequel to John B. Watson's 'Little Albert' experiment, Mary Cover Jones demonstrated that fear could be eliminated through behavioral techniques. She successfully treated a young boy, Little Peter, for his phobia of rabbits using a process of 'unconditioning,' which laid the groundwork for behavior therapy.

Mary Cover Jones's Study on Little Peter

Mary Cover Jones was an influential female psychologist recognized for her pioneering work in behavior therapy. Her most famous study involved successfully unconditioning a fear of rabbits in a young boy known as Little Peter, positioning her work as a sequel to John B. Watson's research on Little Albert.

Google

New Mexico Highlands University

Some early female contributors to psychology include:

- Margaret Floy Washburn
- Mary Whiton Calkins
- Mary Cover Jones

Women in Psychology

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Margaret Floy Washburn (1871–1939) was a pioneering psychologist who became the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology. Her significant research contributions focused primarily on the areas of animal behavior and cognition.

Margaret Floy Washburn

Following the election of Mary Whiton Calkins as the first female president of the American Psychological Association in 1905, the presence of women in the field expanded notably. By 1946, women accounted for almost a quarter of all psychologists in the United States, marking a significant demographic shift in the profession.

Growth of Women in American Psychology

Mary Whiton Calkins (1863–1930) was a prominent first-generation American psychologist. Mentored by William James, she completed all doctoral requirements at Harvard in the mid-1890s, but the university refused to grant her the degree due to her gender, despite James's advocacy on her behalf. Her major contributions include founding an early experimental psychology lab, conducting key research on memory, opposing the behaviorist movement, and becoming the first female president of the American Psychological Association in 1905.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After