Psyche Cattell

Psyche Cattell (; August 2, 1893 – April 17, 1989) was an American psychologist who studied children and aimed to develop intelligence tests for infants.

Early life and education Cattell was born to James McKeen Cattell and Josephine Owen Cattell in Garrison, New York, on August 2, 1893. Her father was a notable psychologist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University.

As a psychologist, James Cattell actively shaped his children's educational environment. He home schooled them with the support of visiting educators and tutors. Psyche Cattell often fell behind her siblings, perhaps due to undiagnosed dyslexia. Because of her struggles, her father did not support her academic aspirations. As a result, she became a research assistant in order to save up money for college. She went on to receive a Doctor of Education degree from Harvard in 1927. Later researchers have found that the test is poorly predictive but that "low scores on the scale appear to have greater predictive validity than high scores, particularly when the child has an unfavourable medical history or an impoverished social environment."

Academic and professional work Research assistant, Harvard Growth Study, Harvard University (1922–1925)