From Physiology to Psychology: The Pioneering Legacy of Women in Experimental Psychology

Abstract

This paper aims to recover the main theoretical and methodological contributions of a minority group of Soviet women physiologists from the beginning of the 20th century, recognized as pioneers of experimental psychology and whose empirical works are core to Pavlovian theory: Nadezhda A. Kashereninova, Y. P. Frokritova, M. M. Stukova, M. Nikolaevna Erofeeva, Kapitonovna Petrova and Shenger-Krestonikova. The methodological contributions of their main experiments are highlighted, as well as the theoretical difficulties they faced in describingand explaining conditioned reflex activity, also considered psychic activity, in physiological terms. Furthermore, the possible reasons that account for the scarce reference and even omission of authorship of these pioneers, as well as other scientists who remain forgotten in psychological research within the historical, theoretical and experimental literature of the analysis of the conduct. Finally, some simple actions are described that can be carried out within university classrooms to help make visible the work of women in psychology.