Who was the first woman to earn a PhD degree in psychology?

• A. Karen Horney
• B. Mary Whiton Calkins
• C. Anna Freud
• D. Margaret Floy Washburn

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the question is asking for the first woman to earn a PhD degree specifically in psychology, which is a historical fact in the field of psychology.
2. Review the options given: Karen Horney, Mary Whiton Calkins, Anna Freud, and Margaret Floy Washburn, and recall their contributions and historical timelines in psychology.
3. Recall that Mary Whiton Calkins was a pioneering woman in psychology but did not receive a PhD because Harvard denied her the degree despite completing the requirements.
4. Recognize that Margaret Floy Washburn was the first woman to officially earn a PhD in psychology, awarded by Cornell University in 1894.
5. Confirm that the correct answer is Margaret Floy Washburn based on historical records of psychology education.