One of the most important figures in the study of sexual roles, child development and social development is the psychologist Eleanor Maccobby (1917-2018), and this is evidenced by works such as “The psychology of the sexes: implications for adult roles” (1979), cited in Evelyne Sullerot’s book “” (Barcelona: Argos Vergar).
And Maccobby has made important contributions to the understanding of these topics and others, such as selective attention. She has even studied the psychological impact of divorce.
Among her most notable achievements is becoming chair of Stanford’s psychology department, the first woman in history to obtain such a position.
“Equality is a vital need of the human soul. The same amount of respect and attention is due to every human being, because respect has no degrees.”, Simone Weil.
Personal life
Born in Tacoma, Washington, in May 1917, Eleanor Emmons Maccoby was part of the family created by her parents: Viva, a singer dedicated to music, and Eugene, who had a small business with which he supported his family. The couple had four daughters, Eleanor being the second to be born.
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Eleanor grew up in a very open-minded environment, with interests and affinity towards Eastern culture, the occult and astrology, having always been a vegetarian. She married during her last year of college a young man named Nathan Maccoby, who had already graduated in psychology and with whom she would adopt her three children.
Eleanor Maccobby had a prolific life dedicated to her research, leaving a great legacy for the study of various aspects that concern psychology until the moment of her death in Palo Alto, on December 11, 2018, at the age of 101.
Studies
The University of Washington was the headquarters where Eleanor trained as a psychologist, obtaining her bachelor’s degree there and then carrying out postgraduate studies in Portland Oregon, specifically at Reed College to then dedicate herself to her doctorate, which was awarded by the University of Washington. Michigan.
She worked in the psychology department at Stanford University, teaching child psychology in 1958. It was precisely at this time that she met Carol Nagy Jacklin, with whom she shared an interest in the feminist movement and from this friendship arose her interest in studying the phenomena of inequality between genders.
Maccoby (1979) bases his studies on development and sexual roles on his observation of play behaviors and their differences and similarities between girls and boys, reaching the conclusion that there is a certain genetic predisposition that influences many of the behaviors that occur. They associate the masculine and feminine genders.
Thanks to these works, Eleanor established herself as a recognized researcher in the world of the study of human behavior. Her work on the psychology of sexual differences has become a mandatory reference when carrying out gender studies, being essential reading to better understand this topic.
“Clearly, an essential element of being masculine is being non-feminine, while girls can be feminine without needing to prove that they are non-masculine.”, Eleanor Maccoby.
Beginning in the 1980s, he began a fruitful career expanding his focus of study, this time conducting longitudinal research in relation to divorce and how it affects the relationships between children and their parents.
Awards obtained
Throughout her life, Eleanor Maccobby obtained several recognitions for her work, including becoming a member of the American National Academy of Sciences in 1993, and being considered one of the 100 most eminent psychologists of the 20th century. .
His work included presiding over various institutions, such as:
- Society for Research in Child Development, between 1981 and 1983.
- Western Psychological Association, 1974 to 1975.
- The Department of Psychology at Stanford, from 1973 to 1976, also being the first woman to hold this position.
- Division 7 of the American Psychological Association (APA), between 1971 and 1972.
In addition, she has several awards for her scientific work, such as the Eleanor Maccoby Book Award in Developmental Psychology, awarded by the APA in 2000, an institution that recognized her work on other occasions, with awards such as: Award for scientific contributions Distinguished (1988), and the G. Stanley Hall Award, Division of Developmental Psychology (1982).
For its part, the American Psychological Foundation, in 1996, awarded Maccoby the lifetime achievement award, after receiving the award for distinguished scientific contributions in educational research in 1987 and the award for distinguished contributions in educational research, in 1984.
Eleanor Maccoby Book Prize
Although this award bears his name, Maccoby was not the first person to receive this award from the American Psychological Association, which is the entity in charge of annually evaluating the work of scientists who have stood out with their research in the field. of psychology.
Other contributions to psychology
Eleanor Maccoby made great contributions to psychology, especially regarding the study of child development, sexual roles, attention, and the impact of divorce on those involved. In addition to this, she left a legacy of books and publications that are of great interest to anyone interested in these matters:
- In 1974, from Stanford University Press, she published together with Nagy Jacklin: “Psychology of sexual differences” (cited in: women involved in political violence, by Fernández)
- For Harvard University Press, he publishes: “Dividing the child: social and legal dilemmas of custody.”
- In 1972, together with Shirley Feldman, he wrote: “Attachment to the mother and reactions to strangers in the third year of life,” for the University of Chicago Press.
- In 1970, he published: “Experiments in primary education: aspects of project monitoring”, research that he carried out for Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, together with Miriam Zellner.
- In 1967, he developed for the Society for Research in Child Development: “The effect of the preparatory set on selective listening: developmental trends.”
Bibliographic references:
- Fernández, C. (2011). Neither “beautiful souls” nor “fair warriors”: women involved in political violence. Gender issues: equality and difference, 6, 75-96.
- Maccoby, E. (1979), “The psychology of the sexes: implications for adult roles”, in Evelyne Sullerot, The feminine fact, Barcelona: Argos Vergara.