MARGARET MEAD AND PSYCHOLOGY: THE EDUCATION OF AN ANTHROPOLOGIST

Authors

Patricia A. Francis, Independent ResearcherFollow

Abstract

Margaret Mead's brand of anthropology was deeply rooted in the psychological. Mead began her career in psychology, taking a master's degree in that field but switching to anthropology at the urging of Ruth Benedict. Mead's background in psychology equipped her particularly well to embark on her field trip to American Samoa in 1925. While the anthropological training of her day did not emphasize practical aspects of conducting fieldwork, Mead's training in psychology taught her how to conduct case studies, design experiments, and measure results quantitatively and qualitatively. Mead's family background also contributed to her training as a social scientist, particularly through the influence of her mother, sociologist Emily Fogg Mead.

Recommended Citation

Francis, Patricia A. (2005) "MARGARET MEAD AND PSYCHOLOGY: THE EDUCATION OF AN ANTHROPOLOGIST," Pacific Studies Journal: Vol. 28: No. 2, Article 5.
Available at: https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/pacific-studies-journal/vol28/iss2/5