David Shakow (1884–1956) was a pioneering American psychologist and the first president of the American Psychological Association (APA). He was a major figure in the development of psychology in the United States during the early 20th century.
Shakow was born in Kalisz, Poland and emigrated to the United States in 1891. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1904, he went on to earn a Ph.D. in philosophy from the same institution in 1911. In 1912, he became a professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s psychology department, and in 1923, he was appointed to the position of the first full-time chair of psychology at the institution.
Shakow was a prolific writer and editor of psychological works, and had a special interest in the teaching of psychology. He wrote many books on the subject of psychology and was one of the first to recommend the use of laboratory experiments in psychological instruction. In 1924, he founded the Psychological Review, a journal dedicated to the advancement of psychology as a science, and served as its editor for twenty years. He was also a founding member of the American Psychological Association, and it was during his tenure as president that the association established its first code of ethics.
Shakow made a major impact on the development of psychology in the United States. He was the first to develop a comprehensive curriculum in psychology, and he is credited with introducing the concept of the “psychological laboratory” to the field. He also championed the inclusion of psychology in public education, and helped to legitimize the field of psychology in the eyes of the public.
Shakow’s influence on the field of psychology is still felt today. His work has been recognized by the American Psychological Association, which awarded him the Gold Medal for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in 1956, just before his death.
References
American Psychological Association. (1956). Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/about/awards/gold-medal
Boring, E. G. (1957). David Shakow. Psychological Review, 64(6), 459–462. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0044833
Hothersall, D. (2003). History of psychology (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Shakow, D. (1924). Psychological Review: A Quarterly Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Psychology. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/rev/1/