Carolyn Attneave facts for kids

Carolyn Lewis Attneave (born July 2, 1920 – died June 22, 1992) was an important American psychologist. She was born in El Paso, Texas. Her parents were from Scandinavia and the Delaware Native American tribe. Carolyn spent most of her childhood in South Texas. However, she often spent summers with her Delaware relatives in Oklahoma. This upbringing, where she learned about different cultures, helped her decide to study diversity.

Carolyn earned her first bachelor's degree in English and Theatre in 1940. She got this from Chico State College in California. She then earned another bachelor's degree in secondary education from the same college. After teaching for six years, she went back to school. She earned both her master's and doctorate degrees in clinical psychology. She got these from Stanford University in 1947 and 1952.

Carolyn Attneave's Career and Research

Carolyn Attneave was the first Native American woman to earn a Ph.D. in psychology. Many people consider her the most famous psychologist of American-Indian background. In 1962, she moved to Oklahoma. There, she worked for the Oklahoma State Department of Health. She helped provide mental health services to seven different Native American tribes. This work greatly influenced her later efforts. She wanted to create mental health treatments specifically for Native Americans.

Network Therapy and Community Work

In 1968, Carolyn moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She worked at the Child Guidance Clinic. Here, she started focusing on something called network therapy. This was a new way to help people. Instead of staying in a hospital, clients would work with their own personal networks. These networks included their families and neighborhood communities. To better understand her clients' cultures, she moved to a mostly Black area of Philadelphia. This helped her learn about different therapy networks. In 1973, she published a book called Family Networks with Ross Speck.

Leading Native American Organizations

Later, Carolyn moved to Boston, Massachusetts. She helped start the Boston Indian Council. This council became the largest Indian council in the country. In 1970, Attneave also founded and edited the Network of Indian Psychologists. This group shared cultural resources for Indian communities. The newsletter eventually grew into what is now known as the Society of Indian Psychologists.

Teaching and Later Life

Starting in 1973, Carolyn began teaching at Harvard University's School of Public Health. Later, she joined the faculty at the University of Washington. There, she directed the University's American Indian Studies Program. Carolyn Attneave retired in 1980. She continued to write, give lectures, and travel until she passed away in 1992.

Honoring Carolyn Attneave

Carolyn Attneave's important work is still remembered today.

Awards and Recognition

The American Psychological Association gives out an award every year called the Carolyn Attneave Diversity Award. This award is named after her. It honors people who help promote diversity in family psychology.

Building Renamed in Her Honor

In 2019, Stanford University renamed a building after her. The Serra House, where the Clayman Institute for Gender Research is located, became the Carolyn Lewis Attneave House. It was previously named after Junípero Serra.