Abel, Theodora (1899–1998)
Abel, Theodora (1899–1998)
American clinical psychologist. Name variations: Theodora Mead Abel. Born Theodora Mead, Sept 9, 1899, in Newport, Rhode Island; died Dec 2, 1998, in Forestburgh, NY; dau. of Robert Mead Jr. and Elsie (Cleveland) Mead; Columbia University, PhD (1925); m. Theodore Abel, 1923; children: 3.
Known largely for work in ethnology; worked at Manhattan Trade School for Girls (1923–25); received position at University of Illinois (1925); served on staff at Cornell University (1926–28) and performed research on galvanic skin reflex; served as instructor at Sarah Lawrence College (beginning 1929) and became director of psychoanalysis at Postgraduate Center for Mental Health; with Elaine Kinder, published 1st book The Subnormal Adolescent Girl (1942); served as research psychologist at Letchworth Village (1940s); became expert in Rorschach technique; served as instructor at Long Island University and clinical professor at University of New Mexico Medical School; published Culture and Psychotherapy (introduction by Margaret Mead, 1975).