Monitor on Psychology - May 2012 - (Page 27)
With this in mind, she and Frank adapted later films taken at the Ball Brothers Mason Jar factory in 1918 to include shots of workers smiling at the camera with their names and even nicknames written at the bottom of the screen. After her husband’s death in 1924, Lillian went on to apply her efficiency methods to cooking and housework, which she had little experience with herself. She advised homemakers to imagine that their eyes were motion picture cameras and to use them to take motion studies of their work each day. Being mindful of one’s actions, she argued, could increase interest in one’s chores while reducing the fatigue and monotony associated with housework. America’s preoccupation with cinema facilitated the Gilbreths’ career applying psychology to industry and homemaking, and our continued interest in film is what keeps their project fascinating even today. n Arlie R. Belliveau is a doctoral student in the History and Theory of Psychology program at York University where she specializes in psychologists’ early use of film. Katharine Milar, PhD, of Earlham College is historical editor of “Time Capsule.” Video: View an excerpt of some of the Gilbreth’s films. For more, visit http://archive.org/details/ OriginalFilm. M AY 2 0 1 2 • M O N I T O R O N P S Y C H O L O G Y DIGITAL A more interactive APA Monitor is just a click away • Read the Monitor on your smartphone, iPad or PC. • See expanded, interactive content, including video, slide shows and more. • Get instant access to jobs and advertiser sites. Go to www.apa.org/monitor/digital 27
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