Clara Mayo
Encyclopedia
Clara Alexandra Weiss (1931–1981) was a social psychologist who conducted research into the processes of social perception
and nonverbal communication
with the primary purpose of understanding prejudice
and stereotyping. Her research shifted the focus from individual behaviors to nonverbal behaviors.
from A to Z. English became Weiss’ third language the others were German and French.
After graduating from Hunter High School, Clara Weiss enrolled in Cornell University
in Ithaca, New York where she majored in philosophy
and was introduced to psychology by Urie Bronfenbrenner
. Some of the research that she conducted was focused on the capacity to detect small behavioral cues, after conducting this study she came to the conclusion that women are good readers of nonverbal cues. She graduated with honors bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1953. Earlier that year she married James P. Mayo, Jr. In 1955 she received a master’s degree from Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She was then accepted into the social psychology
doctoral program at Clark University
in Worchester, Massachusetts. Mayo received her Ph.D. from Clark in 1959. After leaving Clark, she worked as a social psychology trainee at the Veterans Administration Hospital
in Brockton, Massachusetts.
Social perception
Social perception is, in psychology and other cognitive sciences, that part of perception that allows people to understand the individuals and groups of their social world, and thus an element of social cognition....
and nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication
Nonverbal communication is usually understood as the process of communication through sending and receiving wordless messages. Messages can be communicated through gestures and touch , by body language or posture, by facial expression and eye contact...
with the primary purpose of understanding prejudice
Prejudice
Prejudice is making a judgment or assumption about someone or something before having enough knowledge to be able to do so with guaranteed accuracy, or "judging a book by its cover"...
and stereotyping. Her research shifted the focus from individual behaviors to nonverbal behaviors.
Early Life and Education
Clara Alexandra Weiss was born in Linz, Austria, on September 13, 1931 as the only child to Joseph, a product of “mixed marriage” and Maria Weiss, a Catholic. Weiss early childhood was peaceful until Hitler took charge and her family had to leave their life of luxury in an attempt to avoid getting captured by the Nazi. The Weiss family managed to land in southern France undetected but then became refugees attempting to enter into the United States. Upon their arrival to the United States, Clara Weiss quickly learned English by reading from the children’s books from the Children’s Room of the New York Public LibraryNew York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
from A to Z. English became Weiss’ third language the others were German and French.
After graduating from Hunter High School, Clara Weiss enrolled in Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in Ithaca, New York where she majored in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and was introduced to psychology by Urie Bronfenbrenner
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Urie Bronfenbrenner was a Russian American psychologist, known for developing his Ecological Systems Theory, and as a co-founder of the Head Start program in the United States for disadvantaged pre-school children....
. Some of the research that she conducted was focused on the capacity to detect small behavioral cues, after conducting this study she came to the conclusion that women are good readers of nonverbal cues. She graduated with honors bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1953. Earlier that year she married James P. Mayo, Jr. In 1955 she received a master’s degree from Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts. She was then accepted into the social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
doctoral program at Clark University
Clark University
Clark University is a private research university and liberal arts college in Worcester, Massachusetts.Founded in 1887, it is the oldest educational institution founded as an all-graduate university. Clark now also educates undergraduates...
in Worchester, Massachusetts. Mayo received her Ph.D. from Clark in 1959. After leaving Clark, she worked as a social psychology trainee at the Veterans Administration Hospital
Veterans Administration Hospital
Veterans Administration Hospital or Veterans Administration Medical Center is a term used to refer to one of the medical facilities operated by the Veterans Health Administration, a division of the U.S...
in Brockton, Massachusetts.