Virginia E. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Virginia Eshelman Johnson (11 February 1925) is a former American
sexologist and psychologist
, best known as the junior member of the Masters and Johnson
sexuality
research team. Along with then-husband William Masters, she pioneered research into the nature of human sexual response
and the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunctions
from 1957 until the 1990s.
on 11 February 1925. She divorced her first husband, with whom she had had two children - Scott Forstall and Lisa Evans - in 1956.
. In 1964, Masters and Johnson established their own independent nonprofit research institution in St. Louis called the Reproductive Biology Research Foundation; this center was renamed the Masters and Johnson Institute
in 1978.
The pair married in 1971; Masters divorced his first wife to marry Johnson.
In April 2009, Thomas Maier reported in Scientific American that Johnson had serious reservations about the Masters and Johnson Institute
's program to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals, a program which ran from 1968 to 1977.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
sexologist and psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
, best known as the junior member of the Masters and Johnson
Masters and Johnson
The Masters and Johnson research team, composed of William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson, pioneered research into the nature of human sexual response and the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunctions from 1957 until the 1990s....
sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
research team. Along with then-husband William Masters, she pioneered research into the nature of human sexual response
Human sexual response
Human sexual response may refer to:* Human sexual arousal.* Human Sexual Response , a book by William Howell Masters and Virginia Eshelman Johnson.* Human Sexual Response , a New Wave musical group from Boston, Massachusetts, United States....
and the diagnosis and treatment of sexual disorders and dysfunctions
Sexual dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction or sexual malfunction refers to a difficulty experienced by an individual or a couple during any stage of a normal sexual activity, including desire, arousal or orgasm....
from 1957 until the 1990s.
Early life
Virginia Eshelman was born to Harry Hershel Eshelman and Edna Eshelman (née Evans) in Springfield, MissouriSpringfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
on 11 February 1925. She divorced her first husband, with whom she had had two children - Scott Forstall and Lisa Evans - in 1956.
Sexological work
Johnson met Masters in 1957 when he hired her as a research assistant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
. In 1964, Masters and Johnson established their own independent nonprofit research institution in St. Louis called the Reproductive Biology Research Foundation; this center was renamed the Masters and Johnson Institute
Masters and Johnson Institute
The Masters and Johnson Institute was the clinical and research foundation of sexologist duo Masters and Johnson. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the Institute was established to study human sexuality with particular emphasis on the anatomy and physiology of human sexual response and the...
in 1978.
The pair married in 1971; Masters divorced his first wife to marry Johnson.
In April 2009, Thomas Maier reported in Scientific American that Johnson had serious reservations about the Masters and Johnson Institute
Masters and Johnson Institute
The Masters and Johnson Institute was the clinical and research foundation of sexologist duo Masters and Johnson. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, the Institute was established to study human sexuality with particular emphasis on the anatomy and physiology of human sexual response and the...
's program to convert homosexuals into heterosexuals, a program which ran from 1968 to 1977.