Speaker
Elissa Rodkey, York University
Title
Madga Arnold, Psychology, and Religious Belief: Finding a Focus
Abstract
Madga Arnold (1903-2002) is a curious figure in 20th century psychology. Best remembered for pioneering an appraisal theory of emotion, which bucked the dominant reductionist theories of the day and later proved foundational for modern cognitive approaches to emotion, she also held views of the human person that were usual for the time. In 1948, when her career was just taking off, she converted to Catholicism, an event which would deeply shape her both her career and emotion theorizing. Inspired by the insights of St. Thomas Aquinas, she integrated Thomistic philosophical concepts into her emotion theory, and, concerned about the state of Catholic higher education, left a position at Bryn Mawr for a post at the backwater Barat College. Thomistic and Catholic perspectives remained essential to her thinking throughout her career and she later attributed her successful working out of her theory of emotion to her conversion.
In this colloquium I will explore the role of Magda Arnold's religious belief in her life and reflect on some of the challenges posed by such a dissertation topic. In preparation for the colloquium talk, please take a look at the Feminist Voices profile on Magda Arnold.