Marie Jahoda 6L Excursion

Intro:
On Friday, the 26th of April, the 6L class went on a field trip to learn about the influential 20th-century psychologist Marie Jahoda. We listened to excerpts from Dr. Jahoda’s autobiography, learned about her early life in pre-WW2 Vienna, her escape during the war’s early years, and her journey to becoming one of the most groundbreaking psychologists of all time. Following this, we had the chance to ask three experts questions about her life and contributions to the field. This is a brief summary of what we learned and experienced on the trip.

What we did:
On the 26th, we met in the city and took a bus to a charming theatre in the heart of Linz. There, we had a chance to hear Marie Jahoda’s autobiography, read by famous Austrian actress, Marie Hofstätter. Accompanying the reading were songs that complemented the book excerpts. After the reading, we had the chance to ask Mrs. Hofstätter and the organizers questions about Jahoda’s life and work.

Marie Jahoda:
Marie Jahoda was born on the 16th of January 1907 in Vienna. She grew up in a Jewish family and had a well-off childhood. She described her childhood as serene and peaceful. She got her PHD from the university of Vienna in 1933. However, she was arrested for her participation in socialist’s circles, but was later released. Upon her release, she left for London where she would spend the duration of the war. In 1945, she went to New York. It seems Marie Jahoda was not particularly fond of the city, except for reuniting with her 17-year-old daughter. She wrote that the bustle and unempathetic culture of the city did not appeal to her. She soon returned to England, studying at the university of Sussex.

As a Jewish woman, she faced many trials and tribulations in the field of psychology. There were few spots in scientific fields for women in general, and despite that she became a respected psychologists by her peers. She is now considered a pioneer of feminism breaking ground for female scientists all over the world and encouraged the study of the female brain as well as the male one.

The Reading:
We were given a brief presentation of Marie Jahoda, and then we were read passages from Dr Jahoda’s autobiography. In between, a fantastic singer performed songs that enriched the atmosphere. Each passage highlighted a different part of Marie Jahoda’s life. After the reading, we asked questions about Dr. Jahoda’s personal life and later discoveries.

Conclusion:
Many thanks to the Lisa Support Association for providing us the opportunity to learn more about Marie Jahoda! This experience was made possible by their generosity. We also extend our gratitude to our teacher, Mrs. Bodingbauer-Gauch, for kindly organizing and accompanying us on the excursion. It was an enriching experience that we highly recommend to anyone interested in Marie Jahoda’s life or her groundbreaking concepts.

David Romero Probst, 6L