Mary Ainsworth is one ofa few female influential psychologists. Mary was best known for her work in “ AttachmentTheory” and, she created a classic study that was used in attachment researchcalled “ The Strange Situation”. In the biography I will be talking about MaryAinsworth personal and professional life. MaryAinsworth was born in Glendale, Ohio on December 1, 1913, when Mary was fiveyears of age her family moved to Toronto, Canada in 1918 because her fatherworked at a manufacturing firm which was transferred. Mary spent her childhoodliving in Toronto, Canada. Mary was the oldest of four girls.
When Mary was 15years old, reading and trips to the library were a priority in her household. She became interested to psychology when she came upon a book by WilliamsMcDougall called “ Character and the Conduct of life”. At the age of 16 Marydecided to enroll at the University of Toronto in the honors to psychologyprogram which was in 1929. Mary was one of four to complete an honors degree inpsychology.
In 1935, Mary has received her bachelors in psychology. In additionto her bachelors she went on to earn her masters and doctorate in 1936-1939. In1938 she began teaching at the University she was attending, after Mary did notwanted to teach she joined the Canadian Women’s Army Corp where she reached therank of a major within the corps which was in the year of 1945. After asuccessful military engagement, Mary went back to Toronto to resume teachingpersonality psychology. Mary then married Leonard Ainsworth, who was also agraduate student in the psychology department of the university of Toronto, in1950.
Mary and her husband Leonard decided to move to London because Leonardwanted to finish his PhD at the University College of London. In 1960, Mary andLeonard got divorced and underwent her therapy that she contributed herinterest in psychoanalytic theory. She started teaching at the university ofVirginia and she continued teaching at the school for the remainder of hercareer until 1984. Mary then became a retired professor and stayed active untilthe year of 1992.
Mary was the elected as a fellow of the “ American Academy ofArts and Sciences”. Mary Ainsworth passed away on March 21, 1999 at the age 85due to a stroke.