Phyllis A. Katz

Phyllis A. Katz

Phyllis A. Katz (born April 9, 1938) is an American developmental and clinical psychologist known for her research on the early development of race and gender attitudes in children.^[5] She is the founding editor of Sex Roles: A Journal of Research and has held leadership positions within the American Psychological Association (APA) and multiple research institutions.^[6] Her work has been widely cited in psychology, education, and public policy.

Early Life and Education

Phyllis A. Katz was born in Brooklyn, New York to Alice and Martin Alberts. She grew up in Brooklyn as an only child and attended Lincoln High School. She married Aron B. Katz (Yale University Law School) in 1961, and has two children. She is currently married to Dr. Sheldon Strominger.

Katz earned her Bachelor of Arts degree (summa cum laude) from Syracuse University in 1957 and received her Ph.D. in developmental and clinical psychology from Yale University in 1961. At Yale, she studied under Edward Zigler, with Lawrence Kohlberg and William Kessen on her dissertation committee.^[7] She held a U.S. Public Health Service Traineeship and was named a Boie Fellow. Her clinical internship was completed at the West Haven VA Hospital.

Academic Career

Katz has taught at Queens College, New York University, and the City University of New York Graduate Center, where she served as Chair of the Developmental Psychology section of the Ph.D. program and Acting Executive Officer of the Ph.D. Program in Education. She later taught at Teachers College, Columbia University, and held appointments as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the University of Colorado.

Since 1975, Katz has served as Director of the Institute for Research on Social Problems, where she has conducted research in child development, racial attitude formation, gender role acquisition, and social stereotypes.

Research and Publications

Katz's research has addressed how children acquire and express racial and gender biases, the cognitive foundations of stereotypes, and the role of parental and media influence.^[8] Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the U.S. Office of Child Development.

She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles, books, and chapters. She was the founding editor of Sex Roles: A Journal of Research (1976–1991) and served on editorial boards for Child Development, Developmental Psychology, and Journal of Educational Psychology, and as editor of Journal of Social Issues.

Awards and Honors

• Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award (2012) for excellence in teaching and mentoring.^[9]
• American Psychological Association (2002) Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest – Senior Career Achievement.^[6]
• Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues (1996) Outstanding Service Award for major contributions to SPSSI’s growth and effectiveness.^[10]
• American Psychological Association Division 35 (1994) Carolyn Wood Sherif Award.^[11]

Professional Leadership and Service

Katz has held leadership roles within the American Psychological Association, including:

• President, Division 9 (Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues)
• President, Division 35 (Psychology of Women)
• Chair of APA Committees on Finance, Breast Cancer, and Women in Psychology
• Member of the APA Council of Representatives (Divisions 9 and 35) and Investment Committee

She has served on advisory panels for the National Institutes of Health, the Office of Child Development, and the National Science Foundation.

Community Engagement

Katz has served in leadership and advisory roles for various nonprofit and civic organizations:

• Colorado Music Festival – President, Trustee, and Honorary Board Member
• Ms. Magazine Free to Be Foundation – Board Member
• Boulder County AIDS Project – Honorary Board Member
• Advisor to programs focused on parenting, domestic violence prevention, and early childhood development

Selected Katz Publications

• Katz, P. A. (2020). "Incipient Racism? When Does it Start? Racial Attitude Development in Young Children." Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 7(9), 766-785.
• Katz, P.A. (2018). "The Ages of Women." Advances in Applied Sociology, 9, 1-11.
• Katz, P., Winiarski, A. (2013). "Sex Role Stereotypes and Gender Differences." Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education, 1948–1958.
• Katz, P.A., & Katz, M. (1997). The Feminist Dollar: The Wise Woman's Buying Guide. New York: Plenum Publishing.
• Katz, P.A. (1996). "Raising feminists." Sex Roles.
• Katz, P.A., & Ksansnak, K.R. (1993). "Developmental aspects of gender-role behavior in childhood and adolescence." Developmental Psychology, 30, 272-282.
• Katz, P. A., & Walsh, P. V. (1991). "Modification of children's gender-stereotyped behavior." Child Development, 62, 338-351.
• Katz, P. A. (1979). "The development of female identity." Sex Roles, 5, 155-178.
• Katz, P. A., & Zalk, S. R. (1978). "Modification of children's racial attitudes." Developmental Psychology, 14, 447-461.
• Zalk, S. R., & Katz, P. A. (1978). "Gender attitudes in children." Sex Roles, 4, 349-358.

References