Ravenna Mathews Helson (February 13, 1925–2020) was an American psychologist known for her research on the psychology of women and creativity.
She was promoted to the position of full-status researcher at IPAR in 1980, and became an adjunct professor of psychology at UC Berkeley the same year.
The study involved more than 100 Mills College senior undergraduates (born 1937–1939), who were recruited in 1958–1959, and continues to the present day.
The main purpose of the study was to examine personality in relation to creativity in women.
[5] Over the years, the study expanded to address varied topics including changes in personality over the lifespan[8][9] and in relation to women's work lives,[10] marital satisfaction after child rearing,[11][12] and the impact of culture on individualism.