| The differences between elite and marginal eminent early American psychologists are examined in this study. The elite psychologists in this study were White, Protestant, males of higher class origins. The marginals were either female, foreign-born, or Jewish in origins. The major differences between the elite and marginal psychologists which were found in their educational socialization in the present study concern the country of birth and the nature of undergraduate degrees. The marginal psychologists were more likely to have obtained undergraduate degrees from foreign countries and to have received the B.S. rather than the B.A. degree. The data disclosed no differences between the elite and marginal psychologists in the variables related to career development except for the age of the academic institution where the first position was held. In addition to this, the data disclosed a few differences between marginal and elite psychologists in the areas of recognition and contributions to the field. The major difference was that elite psychologists received more recognition by virtue of having been members of the National Academy of Sciences. Finally, there was a slight tendency for marginal psychologists to be more active in founding and vitalizing laboratories, while elite psychologists had a tendency to have been presidents of universities and colleges. |
