William Moulton Marston
The psychologist who invented the lie detector and then channeled his theories on dominance and submission into the creation of Wonder Woman.
1893–1947 (age 54)·American psychologist and writer·Birthday: May 9·The Lost Generation
Biography
William Moulton Marston lived a life that seems ripped from one of his own comics. A Harvard-trained psychologist, he, with his wife Elizabeth Holloway, developed the systolic blood pressure test, a key component of the modern polygraph. His professional interests, however, were wildly eclectic. He championed DISC theory (Dominance, Inducement, Submission, Compliance) and believed firmly in the coming supremacy of women. This blend of pop psychology, feminism, and personal polyamory (he lived with his wife and former student, Olive Byrne) found its ultimate expression in 1941. Under the pen name Charles Moulton, he created Wonder Woman, an Amazon princess whose Lasso of Truth directly mirrored his lie detector work. More than a superhero, she was a propaganda tool for Marston's vision of a loving, matriarchal world order.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
William was born in 1893, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When William Was Born
The biggest hits of 1893
William's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1893Born
World's Columbian Exposition dazzles Chicago
President: Grover Cleveland
1898Started school
Spanish-American War; US emerges as a world power
President: William McKinley
1906Became a teenager
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Could drive
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1911Could vote
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1914Turned 21
World War I begins
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Turned 30
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1933Turned 40
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1943Turned 50
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1947Died at 54
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
Key Achievements
- Created the iconic DC Comics superhero Wonder Woman, first appearing in 1941.
- With his wife Elizabeth, invented an early prototype of the polygraph lie detector.
- Developed the DISC theory of human behavior, focusing on Dominance, Inducement, Submission, and Compliance.
Did You Know?
He lived in a polyamorous relationship with his wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and their research assistant, Olive Byrne.
The bracelets worn by Wonder Woman were inspired by those worn by Olive Byrne.
He wrote under several pseudonyms, including Charles Moulton, which combined his and his wife's middle names.
“Not even girls want to be girls so long as our feminine archetype lacks force, strength, and power.”
