Ludwika Karpińska, “Polish Lady Philosopher” – a forgotten forerunner of Polish psychoanalysis

Abstract

The paper presents the profile of the psychologist, Ludwika Karpińska-Woyczyńska, the first Polish woman who acted for the popularisation of psychoanalysis and experimental psychology. Karpińska belonged to the first generation of the "Polish Freudians", a group which also involved Ludwik Jekels, Stefan Borowiecki, Herman Nunberg, Jan Nelken and Karol de Beaurain. Karpińska's difficult path to gain higher education will be presented. Thepaper lays an emphasis on Karpińska's contribution to the development of the international psychoanalysis and offers an overview of her most significant psychoanalytic publications (Polish and foreign ones) up to the outbreak of World War I. It demonstrates her participation in scientific conferences and collaboration with the most important psychoanalytical centres in Zurich and Vienna together with their representatives (Jung, Freud, Jekels) drawing simultaneous attention to the broader historical background of the presented events. Karpińska's post-war work was inextricably linked to the research on intelligence quotient of children and youth and psychotechnical studies. Furthermore, the paper illustrates the activities of the Municipal Psychological Lab in Lodz, where Karpińska was a Head between 1920 and 1930, as well as her scientific achievements in intelligence quotient research, most significant publications of 1921-1930, her collaboration with foreign centres of a similar profile and the efforts she made to establish the Vocational Guidance Service.

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