Carolyn Sherif
| Carolyn Wood Sherif | |
|---|---|
| Born |
June 26, 1922 Loogootee, Indiana |
| Died | July 23, 1982 (aged 60) State College, Pennsylvania |
| Fields | Social psychology |
| Institutions |
Pennsylvania State University 1966-1982 Smith College 1979–80 Cornell University 1969–70 |
| Alma mater | (1943) B.A.Purdue University highest distinction (1944) M.A.State University of Iowa (1961) Ph.D.University of Texas |
| Known for |
Social judgment theory Realistic conflict theory following Robber's Cave Experiment Self-system concept Gender identity research Psychology of women research |
Carolyn Wood Sherif (1922–1982) was an American social psychologist who helped to develop social judgment theory and contributed pioneering research in the areas of the self-system, group conflict, cooperation, and gender identity. She also assumed a leading role in psychology both nationally as well as internationally. In addition to performing seminal social psychology research, Wood Sherif devoted herself to teaching her students and was recognized for her efforts with an American Psychological Association award named in her honor that is presented annually.
She was born Carolyn Wood on 26 June 1922, the youngest of three children of Bonny Williams and Lawrence Anselm Wood, in Loogootee, Indiana. In 1945, she married fellow psychologist, Muzafer Sherif, with whom she had three children: Sue, Joan, and Ann Sherif. In July 1982, Carolyn Wood Sherif died of cancer at age 60 in State College, Pennsylvania.
Wood Sherif graduated from West Lafayette High School in 1940.
Wood Sherif earned a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in 1943 with highest distinction in an experimental program developed for women science majors that focused on studying the sciences within humanist and historical perspectives. While Wood Sherif took classes in the sciences and mathematics, she had little exposure to psychology during her undergraduate studies. Instead, Wood Sherif later wrote that several experiences together inspired her to pursue a career in social psychology. First, the United States Department of the Treasury distributed a play she wrote in Junior year to community programs encouraging the sale of war bonds, prompting Wood Sherif to wonder about the ways her play would affect its audiences. She received encouragement from a professor to pursue these questions through research in the field of social psychology. Secondly, inspiration to study social psychology came in part from her amazement at the sudden shift in the American public's attitude from isolationism to support for World War II (Indeed, this amazement led her to investigate attitudes throughout her career as a central topic in her research.) Lastly, she also had a strong desire to better the world, and because of these experiences, she decided to pursue a career in social psychology in order to accomplish this goal.
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