Martha Bernal:the life of a woman minority psychologist

History of PsychologyJune 20, 2006

Early Influences and Zeitgeist

Andrea Villareal

Early Life

• Born in San Antonio, Texas on April 13, 1931.

• Parents were Alicia and Enrique de Bernal, who were Mexican emigrants.

• Martha was immersed in a bi-cultural experience.

• Conflicting messages about culture and education.

Education

• Martha graduated from El Paso High School

• Attended Texas Western College (now University of El Paso)

• Earned her Master of Arts degree from Syracuse University in 1955.

• Earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Indiana University in 1962.

Educational Influences

• The impact of other influential psychologists.– Skinner and Pavlov– Dissertation mentors: Roland Davis & Arnold

Binder– Charles Ferstner& Ogden Lindsley

• Postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA• Early work at University of Arizona

– Ronald Tharp– Ralph Wetzel

• Return to UCLA– Influence of Ivar Lovaas

Motivation to Improve Minority Status in the Field

• Under representation of women and minorities.

• Disrespect faculty showed towards women.

• Challenges women faced with research participation.

• Series of National Conferences in Denver that raised her awareness of the negative effects minority psychologists suffered.

The Zeitgeist Martha Faced

• Educational challenges associated with her cultural background.

• Family pressure and expectations.• Gender expectations of women.• Issues of respect and equality

associated with education, work and research participation.

Struggles and ObstaclesMonika Burton

Obstacles of Women Psychologists

• “Naturally” Inferior to Men

• Less opportunities– Education– Work

• Social Appearance

• Unrecognized

Obstacles of Ethnic Minority Psychologists

• Termed as “undesirables” in society

• Portrayed as less intelligent

• Held back in their education

• Supported by few, if any

• Scholars– Denied

opportunity to study psychology

– Denied publication of their work

– Denied academic appointments

• Not understood

Martha Bernal’s Personal Obstacles

• Her Father– education a “waste”– traditional standards for women

• Society’s views on Ethnicity– “violence, crime, and drugs”– high school drop out rate

• Hispanic girls age 16-24 highest rate• Lack of encouragement from teachers

Martha’s Personal Obstaclescontinued... • College

– no research– mainly Whites– sexual harassment– quiet bystanders– 1 in 4 chance to

finish degree

• Post Graduate– “we do not hire

women”

Despite struggles, Martha held on to the belief that the chance to succeed exists alongside the challenge to overcome obstacles.“Throughout my life, however critical I might be of this country, I have felt grateful for the opportunities of which I availed myself. They would most likely not have existed had I lived in Mexico.” - Martha Bernal

Theories, Ideas, and Research

Hannah Pennington

Martha Bernal’s Work & Ideas

• There are two distinct phases of Dr. Bernal’s career. – Behavioral and Learning conceptualization

of childhood problems.• “It was interesting to have been a part of a

major advance in treatment of human problems, and advance that initially met strong resistance from prevailing mental health professional establishment” (Bernal, 1988, p 270)

– Researched and promoted importance of training psychologists in diversity.

Phase One: Behavioral

• 1970: Autistic Schizophrenic children stimulation vs. normal children

• 1976: Excuses and drop out rate

• 1978: Parent Training Manual

• 1982: Parents labeling of conduct disorders

Phase Two: Diversity

• Saw previous research as dissatisfying, decided to start out a new field of research

• Denver University: Set 3 goals– Research/teach topics of more interested

to people of color– Advocate for people of color using

publications and presentations– Work with APA to improve minority status

Phase Two: Diveristy continued…

• 1982: Survey of Clinical Programs• 1985: 6 skill sets identified as necessary

• Broad-based understanding of minorities• Positive attitudes toward all groups• Study of socio-cultural variables as behavioral

determinants• Culturally appropriate interventions• Ability to communicate in client’s own language• Ethics of research/practice of psychology apply to

all groups

• 1993: Formation of ethnic identity

Phase Two: Diversity continued…

• 1994: Decade of Progress • Engagement in a change process leading

to cultural competence (rather than minimal exposure to culture)

• Increase in minority faculty

• 1995: Counseling vs. Clinical programs

Weaknesses

• Practicality– How to integrate these principles in

training programs– How to improve current required courses

• Outcome Research– Training necessary, but are these ideas

helpful?– How have programs successfully or

unsuccessfullly integrated concepts?

Strengths

• Used research to address a HUGE need

• Translated her misfortune into opportunity

• Identified key deficit areas in training

• Gathered others and influenced APA

Influence on the TimesNatalie Dimercurio

Influence on Ideas and Events

Guidelines now offer specific behavioral recommendations that psychologists learn more about specific ethnic minority groups with which they may be working withThey must also increase their contact with ethnic minorities to enhance their cultural awareness and knowledge

Influence on APA

• The 40-year journey beginning in 1964 with the passage of the Civil Rights Act in Congress

• 2002:The approval of the “Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists” (American Psychological Association [APA], 2003)

Infuence as a Woman and Minority

• Struggles present, but not like before

• People of color to make up 50 percent of population by middle of 20th century

• Now Lillian Comas-Diaz, a Latina psychologist edits a journal on multicultural mental health

Influence as a Woman and Minority continued...

• Psychologists of color are some of the leading researchers on the development of identity among persons of color

• The development of multicultural competencies and guidelines within psychology are described as a difficult process; however, with dialogues, progress, and many breakthroughs

A Review of Her Life...

Summary of Accomplishments

• First Latina in the United States to earn a doctoral degree in psychology

• Awarded at the First National Multicultural Conference and Summit

• Established a Laboratory for the Study of Classical Conditioning in Autistic Children

Summary of Accomplishments continued...

• Studied Ethnic Identity in Mexican American children

• Drafted a Speech in Which the APA Was Urged to Take Steps to Address Ethnic Minority Issues

• Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues

How is Martha Remembered?

“[Martha] was passionate about her ideas, she spoke out effectively against injustice, she maintained high standards of scholarship and professionalism, she demonstrated much compassion for fellow human beings, and she had considerable energy.”

-Vasquez & Lopez, 2002, p. 362

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