Famous American Psychologists

Burrhus Frederic Skinner was an American psychologist, behaviorist, inventor, and social philosopher known for his work in behavior analysis and radical behaviorism. He served as the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and is renowned for his theory of reinforcement, which emphasizes the role of consequences in shaping behavior. Skinner developed the operant conditioning chamber (Skinner box) and the cumulative recorder to study behavior. His influential works include "Schedules of Reinforcement," "Walden Two," and "Verbal Behavior." Skinner is considered one of the pioneers of modern behaviorism and a highly influential psychologist of the 20th century.

Abraham Harold Maslow was an influential American psychologist known for creating Maslow's hierarchy of needs, a theory emphasizing the fulfillment of innate human needs leading to self-actualization. Maslow held teaching positions at various institutions including Brandeis University, Brooklyn College, New School for Social Research, and Columbia University. He advocated for a positive approach in psychology, focusing on individuals' strengths rather than just symptoms. Ranked as the tenth most cited psychologist of the 20th century, Maslow's work continues to shape understanding of human motivation and well-being.

William James was an influential American philosopher and psychologist known as the "Father of American psychology." Alongside Charles Sanders Peirce, he founded pragmatism and functional psychology. He was a leading figure in late 19th-century philosophy and a key thinker in the United States. His work in radical empiricism and psychology has had a lasting impact on the field. James was a prolific writer, addressing topics such as epistemology, education, metaphysics, psychology, religion, and mysticism. His notable works include "The Principles of Psychology" and "The Varieties of Religious Experience."

Carl Rogers was an influential American psychologist known for his pioneering work in humanistic psychology, particularly in the development of person-centered psychotherapy. He is considered a founding father of psychotherapy research and received prestigious awards for his contributions to the field. Rogers' person-centered approach has had a significant impact in various areas such as psychotherapy, education, and organizational settings. He is recognized as one of the most eminent psychologists of the 20th century and the most influential psychotherapist in history according to surveys and studies.

Erik Erikson was an American child psychoanalyst recognized for his theory on the psychosocial development of individuals. He is credited with coining the term "identity crisis." Despite not having a university degree, Erikson held professorial positions at esteemed institutions such as Harvard, University of California, Berkeley, and Yale. He was acknowledged as the 12th most eminent psychologist of the 20th century in a Review of General Psychology survey published in 2002.

Albert Bandura was a prominent Canadian-American psychologist known for his significant contributions to the fields of education and psychology. He was a professor at Stanford University and made notable advancements in social cognitive theory, therapy, and personality psychology. Bandura was influential in bridging the gap between behaviorism and cognitive psychology. He is recognized for his work on social learning theory, social cognitive theory, and the concept of self-efficacy. His Bobo doll experiment is a classic example of observational learning. Bandura was widely regarded as one of the most influential psychologists in history.

Timothy Francis Leary, an American psychologist and author, gained notoriety for his enthusiastic support of psychedelic drugs. As a clinical psychologist at Harvard University, he founded the Harvard Psilocybin Project and conducted experiments on the therapeutic effects of LSD and psilocybin. Despite controversy and ethical concerns, Leary believed in the therapeutic potential of LSD in psychiatry. After leaving Harvard, he continued to advocate for psychedelic drug use and became a prominent figure in the counterculture of the 1960s, promoting mind expansion and personal truth through LSD.

John Dewey was a prominent American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer known for his deep belief in democracy and progressive ideas. He emphasized the importance of experimental intelligence and plurality in schools and civil society. Dewey was a leading figure in the philosophy of pragmatism and functional psychology. As a major voice of progressive education and liberalism, he founded the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools to apply his innovative pedagogical methods. Dewey's work extended beyond education to cover various topics such as epistemology, metaphysics, aesthetics, and ethics.

Steven Pinker is a prominent Canadian-American cognitive psychologist, psycholinguist, and popular science author known for his work in evolutionary psychology and computational theory of mind. He is the Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, specializing in visual cognition and developmental linguistics. Pinker has conducted research on topics such as mental imagery, language acquisition, the psychology of cooperation, and communication. He has authored numerous books for general audiences, receiving recognition for his contributions to psychology, cognitive science, and language studies.

John B. Watson was an influential American psychologist known for popularizing behaviorism as a psychological school. Through his 1913 address at Columbia University, he introduced Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It. Watson conducted research on animal behavior, child rearing, and advertising, and was involved in controversial experiments like "Little Albert" and the Kerplunk experiment. He also served as the editor of Psychological Review. His contributions led to him being ranked as the 17th most cited psychologist of the 20th century in a 2002 survey.

Harry Frederick Harlow was an American psychologist renowned for his groundbreaking research on attachment, dependency needs, and social isolation in rhesus monkeys. His experiments with surrogate "mothers" highlighted the critical role of caregiving and companionship in social and cognitive development. Despite ethical controversy, his work significantly influenced the understanding of attachment and psychological well-being. Collaborating briefly with Abraham Maslow, Harlow conducted research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and is recognized as one of the most cited psychologists of the 20th century.

Edward Thorndike was an influential American psychologist known for his work in comparative psychology, connectionism, and the learning process. He spent much of his career at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he laid the scientific groundwork for educational psychology. Thorndike also made significant contributions to industrial problem-solving, particularly in the areas of employee exams and testing. He served as president of the American Psychological Association and was a member of the board of the Psychological Corporation. Thorndike's work on reinforcement theory and behavior analysis continues to have a lasting impact on both psychology and education.

Stanley Milgram was an influential American social psychologist known for his controversial obedience experiments conducted in the 1960s at Yale University. Inspired by the Holocaust, he conducted groundbreaking research on obedience to authority, revealing that a significant number of subjects would comply with instructions, even if reluctantly. Milgram also contributed to the concept of six degrees of separation and developed innovative techniques for studying social and self-perception. His work solidified his legacy as a key figure in the field of social psychology.

William Moulton Marston, also known as Charles Moulton, was an American psychologist who co-invented an early version of the polygraph with his wife. He was a self-help author and comic book writer, credited with creating the iconic character Wonder Woman. Marston's professional life was also influenced by two significant women, his wife Elizabeth Holloway Marston and their polyamorous partner Olive Byrne. In recognition of his contributions to the comic book industry, Marston was posthumously inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2006.

James Dobson is an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder of Focus on the Family (FotF). He led FotF from 1977 to 2010 and was a prominent figure in promoting conservative social positions in the 1980s. Dobson produced the daily radio program Focus on the Family, reaching millions worldwide. He advocates for "family values" based on traditional gender roles and opposes feminism and LGBT rights movements. Dobson founded several affiliated organizations to promote his ideas and actively engages in the American culture war.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi was a Hungarian-American psychologist known for identifying and defining the psychological concept of "flow," a state of intense focus that enhances productivity. He held prominent positions at institutions such as the University of Chicago, Lake Forest College, and Claremont Graduate University, where he served as a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Management. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to the fields of psychology and sociology, earning recognition for his research on optimal human experiences.

Martin Seligman is an influential American psychologist, educator, and author known for his work in positive psychology. He is the Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and the director of the university's Positive Psychology Center. Seligman has contributed significantly to the field through his research on topics such as learned helplessness, well-being, and optimism. He has authored several books on positive psychology, including "Learned Optimism" and "Authentic Happiness," and has held prestigious positions within the American Psychological Association.

Albert Ellis was an influential American psychologist and psychotherapist known for founding rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). He held MA and PhD degrees in clinical psychology and was certified by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Ellis also established the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City and played a key role in the cognitive revolutionary paradigm shift in psychotherapy. He was recognized as one of the originators of cognitive-behavioral therapies and was considered the second most influential psychotherapist in history in a 1982 survey of American and Canadian psychologists.

Laura Schlessinger, known as Dr. Laura, is an American talk radio host and author. She hosts The Dr. Laura Program on Sirius XM Radio, offering personal advice to callers and discussing social and political topics. Formerly a marriage and family counselor, she shifted her focus to radio and writing self-help books. Her bestsellers include "Ten Stupid Things Women Do to Mess Up Their Lives" and "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands." She briefly hosted a television talk show and transitioned to satellite radio in 2011, continuing her influential career.

Eric Hoffer was an American philosopher known for his conservative views. He authored ten books, with "The True Believer" being a widely recognized classic. Despite critical acclaim for this work, Hoffer considered "The Ordeal of Change" his finest. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983. His legacy includes the establishment of the Eric Hoffer Book Award, an international literary prize, and an annual literary prize named jointly for him by the University of California, Berkeley.

George Herbert Mead was an American philosopher, sociologist, and psychologist known for his contributions to pragmatism and symbolic interactionism. He was affiliated with the University of Chicago, where he played a key role in the development of these philosophical and sociological theories. Mead was considered one of the founders of symbolic interactionism and had a significant influence on the Chicago School of Sociology. His work focused on the ways in which individuals develop self-awareness and interpersonal relationships through social interactions.

Kurt Lewin, a German-American psychologist, is renowned as a modern pioneer of social, organizational, and applied psychology in the United States. Throughout his professional career, Lewin delved into applied research, action research, and group communication. Considered the "founder of social psychology," he was among the first to explore group dynamics and organizational development. Acknowledged as the 18th-most cited psychologist of the 20th century, Lewin's work has had a lasting impact on the field of psychology.

Henry Alexander Murray was an American psychologist known for his work at Harvard University. He served as the Director of the Harvard Psychological Clinic and developed the theory of personality called personology, focusing on "need" and "press". Murray also co-developed the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) with Christiana Morgan, which became a widely used tool in psychology. Despite his significant contributions to the field, Murray's reputation was tarnished by his involvement in controversial and damaging experiments, including those conducted on Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber.

Gordon Allport was an influential American psychologist known for his pioneering work in personality psychology. He rejected psychoanalytic and behavioral approaches, instead developing an eclectic theory based on traits. Allport emphasized the uniqueness of each individual and the importance of present context in understanding personality. He made significant contributions to values scales and explored various important topics such as rumor, prejudice, and religion. Allport's lasting influence on psychology is evident through his profound impact on students who went on to have successful careers in the field.

Robert Plutchik was a distinguished psychologist and professor known for his extensive contributions to the field of psychology. He held positions at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the University of South Florida, where he conducted research and taught students. Plutchik earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University and authored numerous articles, chapters, and books related to emotions, suicide, violence, and psychotherapy. His professional endeavors focused on advancing the understanding of human emotions and the psychological processes underlying them.

Carol S. Dweck is an accomplished American psychologist known for her research on motivation and mindset. Holding the Lewis and Virginia Eaton Professorship of Psychology at Stanford University, she has also held positions at the University of Illinois, Harvard, and Columbia. Dweck has received recognition for her outstanding contributions to the field, including being named a James McKeen Cattell Fellow and a William James Fellow by the Association for Psychological Science. She has been a member of the National Academy of Sciences since 2012.

Granville Stanley Hall was an influential American psychologist and educator. He earned the first doctorate in psychology in the US and was known for his research on human life span development and evolutionary theory. Hall served as the first president of the American Psychological Association and the first president of Clark University. He is recognized as one of the most cited psychologists of the 20th century. Hall's contributions have had a lasting impact on the field of psychology and education.

Mary Ainsworth was an influential American-Canadian developmental psychologist renowned for her contributions to attachment theory. She designed the well-known strange situation procedure, a method for studying early emotional attachment dynamics between infants and their primary caregivers. Through her pioneering research and studies, Ainsworth established key foundations of modern attachment theory. Her work continues to be highly cited and respected in the field of psychology, solidifying her legacy as a significant figure in understanding human attachment and emotional development.

Robert Anton Wilson was a versatile American author, futurist, psychologist, and self-described agnostic mystic. He played a significant role in popularizing Discordianism through his writings and interviews, being recognized as an Episkopos, pope, and saint within the movement. Wilson's work aimed to challenge conditioned associations, promote a new perspective on the world, and foster generalized agnosticism. He authored science-fiction novels and non-fiction books on various topics including extrasensory perception, metaphysics, conspiracy theory, and quantum psychology. Wilson's career in journalism and editing, notably for Playboy, led him to become a prominent countercultural figure in the mid-1970s.

Aaron T. Beck was an American psychiatrist known as the father of cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). He developed pioneering methods widely used in treating clinical depression and anxiety disorders. Beck created self-report measures for depression and anxiety, including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). In 1994, he co-founded the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy with his daughter, providing treatment, training, and research in CBT. Beck authored numerous professional articles and books on psychotherapy, psychopathology, suicide, and psychometrics, influencing the field of psychiatry significantly.

Urie Bronfenbrenner was a prominent American psychologist known for his groundbreaking work in human development. He introduced the influential ecological systems theory, emphasizing the importance of considering environmental contexts in understanding development. Through his publications, including "The Ecology of Human Development" and "The Bioecological Model of Human Development," Bronfenbrenner highlighted the significance of natural experiments and applied interventions. His involvement in creating the US Head Start program demonstrated his commitment to practical applications of developmental research, ultimately reshaping the field of developmental psychology.

Philip Zimbardo is an American psychologist and professor emeritus at Stanford University. He gained recognition for conducting the controversial Stanford prison experiment in 1971. Despite facing criticism for ethical and scientific concerns surrounding the study, Zimbardo has authored several psychology textbooks for college students. He is the author of notable works such as The Lucifer Effect, The Time Paradox, and The Time Cure. Additionally, Zimbardo founded and serves as the president of the Heroic Imagination Project, focusing on promoting heroism and altruism.

Lillian Moller Gilbreth was an American industrial engineer, psychologist, consultant, and educator known for pioneering the application of psychology to time-and-motion studies. Considered the first industrial/organizational psychologist, she and her husband, Frank Bunker Gilbreth, were efficiency experts who made significant contributions to industrial engineering, particularly in motion study and human factors. Her professional legacy is exemplified by her work in optimizing organizational efficiency and her influence in the field of industrial psychology, which continues to impact various industries to this day.

Jonathan Haidt is an American social psychologist and author, serving as the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University Stern School of Business. His research focuses on the psychology of morality and moral emotions, particularly through moral foundations theory. This theory explores the evolutionary origins of human moral reasoning, emphasizing innate gut feelings over logic. Haidt's work extends to examining how moral reasoning relates to political ideology, influencing various books he has written for general audiences on topics such as happiness, moral politics, political polarization, mental health, and college culture.

Raymond Cattell was a British-American psychologist known for his influential work in psychometric research, focusing on intrapersonal psychological structure. He explored various dimensions of personality, temperament, cognitive abilities, motivation, and emotion. Cattell developed the 16 personality factor model and the 16PF Questionnaire to measure primary trait factors. He also studied intelligence, career assessment, and vocational interests, proposing concepts like fluid and crystallized intelligence. Cattell's use of factor analytic methods revolutionized the understanding and measurement of psychological domains, making him a prominent figure in 20th-century psychology.

John Amaechi is an English-American psychologist, consultant, and former professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Vanderbilt and Penn State before joining the National Basketball Association (NBA). Amaechi also had stints in basketball leagues in France, Greece, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Following his retirement from basketball, he transitioned to a successful career as a psychologist and consultant, establishing his company Amaechi Performance Systems. Amaechi made history in 2007 by becoming the first former NBA player to publicly come out as gay in his memoir, "Man in the Middle."

Rollo Reece May was an American existential psychologist known for his influential book Love and Will. He was a prominent figure in humanistic psychology and existentialist philosophy, advocating for existential psychotherapy alongside Viktor Frankl. May's professional life was marked by close relationships with notable figures such as philosopher and theologian Paul Tillich, whose work influenced him significantly. His other works, including The Meaning of Anxiety and The Courage to Create, further solidified his reputation as a leading figure in existential psychology and philosophy.

Daniel Kahneman was an Israeli-American psychologist renowned for his groundbreaking work in judgment, decision-making, and behavioral economics. Alongside Vernon L. Smith, he was awarded the 2002 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for challenging the assumption of human rationality in economic theory. He co-established the cognitive basis for human errors arising from heuristics and biases with Amos Tversky, developing prospect theory. Kahneman's influential book "Thinking, Fast and Slow" summarized much of his research and became a best seller, solidifying his status as a key figure in behavioral economics.

Eric Kandel is an Austrian-born American medical doctor, psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and professor of biochemistry and biophysics at Columbia University. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2000 for his groundbreaking research on memory storage in neurons. Kandel is a Senior Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the founding director of the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior at Columbia University. His book, "In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a New Science of Mind," received the 2006 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology.

Bruno Bettelheim was an Austrian-born psychologist, scholar, and writer known for his work in the United States. He focused on the education of emotionally disturbed children and Freudian psychology. Bettelheim believed in the power of extended psychoanalytic therapy for children with behavioral and emotional disorders, rejecting the use of drugs and shock therapy. He held positions at prestigious institutions such as the University of Chicago and Stanford University. However, some of his work was later discredited due to allegations of academic dishonesty and patient abuse.

Jerome Seymour Bruner was a prominent American psychologist known for his significant contributions to cognitive psychology and cognitive learning theory in educational psychology. With a BA from Duke University and a PhD from Harvard University, Bruner held various academic positions at institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and New York University. He was recognized as the 28th most cited psychologist of the 20th century in a Review of General Psychology survey published in 2002.

Chris Argyris was an influential American business theorist and professor at Yale School of Management and Harvard Business School. He is recognized as a co-founder of organization development, alongside Richard Beckhard, Edgar Schein, and Warren Bennis. Argyris made significant contributions to the concept of learning organizations, conducting seminal work in this area. His research and teachings have had a lasting impact on the fields of management and organizational behavior, shaping the way organizations approach learning and development.

Amy Cuddy is an American social psychologist, author, and speaker known for her work on "power posing." She has held faculty positions at Rutgers University, Kellogg School of Management, and Harvard Business School. Cuddy's research focuses on using the stereotype content model to analyze perceptions of stereotyped individuals and groups. Despite leaving her tenure-track position at Harvard Business School in 2017, she remains involved in its executive education programs. Cuddy's work on power posing has attracted both praise and criticism regarding its scientific validity.

Robert J. Sternberg is an esteemed American psychologist and psychometrician, currently serving as a Professor of Human Development at Cornell University. With a strong academic background from Yale University and Stanford University, he has made significant contributions to psychology through his triarchic theory of intelligence and various theories on creativity, wisdom, and leadership. Sternberg holds honorary doctorates from multiple prestigious universities worldwide and is recognized as a leading figure in psychology, evident from his ranking as the 60th most cited psychologist of the 20th century.

David Clarence McClelland was an esteemed American psychologist known for his significant contributions to the field of motivation theory. He conducted extensive research and published various works focusing on the concept of achievement motivation. McClelland's pioneering work on the Need Theory, specifically the "need for achievement" theory, has had a lasting impact on the understanding of human motivation. His development of new scoring systems for psychological tests further solidified his reputation as a leading figure in psychology during the 20th century.

Warren Bennis was a pioneering American scholar, organizational consultant, and author known for his significant contributions to the field of Leadership studies. He held prestigious positions at the University of Southern California and was the Founding Chairman of The Leadership Institute. Bennis' work at MIT in the 1960s was instrumental in shaping the shift towards less hierarchical and more democratic institutions. His research and writings, particularly his 'Revisionist Theory of Leadership,' challenged conventional wisdom by emphasizing the importance of humanistic and democratic leadership styles in navigating complex and changing environments.

Max Wertheimer was a prominent psychologist and one of the founders of Gestalt psychology, alongside Kurt Koffka and Wolfgang Köhler. He obtained his PhD in 1904 under Oswald Külpe and taught at various universities, including the Institute for Social Research at Frankfurt University. Wertheimer also worked at the Berlin Psychological Institute before becoming a full professor at Frankfurt University in 1929. He later joined the faculty of The New School in New York, where he made significant contributions to the field of psychology until his passing.

Kenneth Bancroft Clark was a pioneering psychologist who conducted influential research on race relations and the effects of segregation on children. He was the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in psychology from Columbia University. Throughout his career, he focused on improving the mental health and educational opportunities for Black children. Clark played a significant role in the Brown v. Board of Education case, testifying as an expert witness and providing evidence that led to the desegregation of public schools. He also founded the Northside Center for Child Development and was a prominent advocate for integration and social change.

Lawrence Kohlberg was an influential American psychologist renowned for his theory of stages of moral development. He held professorships at the University of Chicago and Harvard University, where he focused on moral judgment, building upon Jean Piaget's work. Despite initial challenges in publishing his views, Kohlberg's research integrated Piaget's theories and ideas from philosophers Mead and Baldwin, establishing the field of moral development within psychology. His significant contributions led to his recognition as one of the most eminent psychologists of the 20th century.

Richard Bandler is an American writer, consultant, and public speaker known for his work in the field of self-help. Alongside John Grinder, he co-founded the controversial neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) approach to psychotherapy in the 1970s. Despite its classification as pseudoscience, Bandler has made significant contributions to the field of self-improvement and personal development. His work has sparked both interest and debate within the psychological community, shaping the way individuals approach therapy and personal growth.

William Glasser was an American psychiatrist known for developing workplace ideas, reality therapy, and choice theory. He focused on personal choice, responsibility, and transformation in individual counseling, work environments, and education. Glasser opposed mainstream psychiatrists who classified psychiatric syndromes as illnesses and prescribed medications. He applied his theories to social issues like education, management, and marriage, warning against traditional psychiatry practices. Glasser advocated for educating the public about mental health and providing post-modern frameworks for healthy therapeutic direction.

Edward B. Titchener was an English psychologist known for developing structuralism, a psychological approach focused on understanding the structure of the mind. He studied under Wilhelm Wundt and became a professor at Cornell University, where he established a prominent doctoral program. Titchener's work attracted notable students, including Margaret Floy Washburn, who became the first woman to earn a PhD in psychology. Through his teachings and research, Titchener made significant contributions to the field of psychology, leaving a lasting impact on the study of mental structures.

Thomas Szasz was a Hungarian-American academic and psychiatrist who served as a professor of psychiatry at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University. He was a distinguished fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a life member of the American Psychoanalytic Association. Szasz was best known for his critique of the moral and scientific foundations of psychiatry, arguing that mental illness is a metaphor for human problems in living. He opposed coercive psychiatry, advocating for voluntary treatment between consenting adults.

Gregory Bateson was an English anthropologist, social scientist, linguist, visual anthropologist, semiotician, and cyberneticist known for his interdisciplinary work across various fields. He co-developed the double-bind theory of schizophrenia in Palo Alto, California. Bateson's interest in systems theory was evident throughout his career, with active participation in Macy conferences in Cybernetics and Group Processes. He explored the relationship between these fields and epistemology, with his influence expanding through collaborations with figures like Stewart Brand.

Arthur Jensen was an American psychologist and writer known for his work in psychometrics and differential psychology. He was a professor of educational psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. Jensen authored over 400 scientific papers and served on the editorial boards of journals like Intelligence and Personality and Individual Differences. He was a prominent advocate of the hereditarian position in the nature vs. nurture debate, emphasizing the role of genetics in determining behavioral traits such as intelligence and personality, which led to controversy surrounding his views on race-based differences in IQ.

Edward Chace Tolman was an influential American psychologist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He is known for founding purposive behaviorism and promoting the concept of latent learning. Tolman's work led to the establishment of a branch of psychology. He was ranked as the 45th most cited psychologist of the 20th century. During the McCarthy era, Tolman played a key role in safeguarding academic freedom. In honor of his contributions, the Education and Psychology building at Berkeley campus was named Tolman Hall.

Lewis Madison Terman was an American psychologist and academic known for his work in educational psychology and eugenics. He was a pioneer at the Stanford School of Education and is best known for revising the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales and initiating the Genetic Studies of Genius. Terman was a prominent eugenicist and a member of various eugenics organizations. He also served as president of the American Psychological Association. His contributions to psychology led to him being ranked as the 72nd most cited psychologist of the 20th century.

James Tiptree Jr., born Alice Hastings Bradley, was an American science fiction and fantasy author who gained recognition for using a male pen name until her gender was revealed in 1977. Additionally using the pen name Raccoona Sheldon, she made significant contributions to the genre with works like "Ten Thousand Light-Years from Home", "Up the Walls of the World", "The Women Men Don't See", "The Girl Who Was Plugged In", "Houston, Houston, Do You Read?", "Brightness Falls from the Air", and "Her Smoke Rose Up Forever". Inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2012, Tiptree left a lasting impact on the field of speculative fiction.

Seymour Papert was a mathematician, computer scientist, and educator known for his work at MIT. He was a pioneer in artificial intelligence and the constructionist movement in education. Papert co-invented the Logo programming language with Wally Feurzeig and Cynthia Solomon. Throughout his career, he focused on teaching and researching the intersection of technology and learning, emphasizing hands-on, experiential education. His contributions to the field of education and computer science have had a lasting impact on the way technology is integrated into teaching practices.

Leon Festinger was an influential American social psychologist known for his groundbreaking work in cognitive dissonance and social comparison theory. He challenged the behaviorist perspective in social psychology by emphasizing the limitations of stimulus-response conditioning. Festinger was a pioneer in using laboratory experimentation while also advocating for studying real-life situations. He gained recognition for infiltrating a doomsday cult to understand group dynamics. His career spanned various research interests, from psychology to visual perception, archaeology, history, and human evolutionary sciences. Festinger's contributions solidified his position as one of the most cited psychologists of the 20th century.

Eugene Landy was an American psychologist known for his controversial 24-hour therapy program and treatment of celebrity clients. He supervised and micromanaged his clients' lives with a team of counselors and doctors. His most notable patient was the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, with whom he formed a business and creative partnership in the 1980s. Landy treated numerous celebrity clients in Los Angeles, including musicians and actors. However, his professional conduct came under scrutiny, leading to the revocation of his professional license in California in 1989.

John Ortberg Jr. is an American evangelical Christian author and speaker. He is a former senior pastor of Menlo Church in Menlo Park, California. Ortberg has published several award-winning books, including "When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box" and "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat". His book "The Life You've Always Wanted" has been widely successful. Ortberg's professional life faced scrutiny when he allowed his son to continue volunteering despite concerns raised about his son's thoughts.

Tara Brach is an American psychologist, author, and prominent figure in the field of Buddhist meditation. As the guiding teacher and founder of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, D.C., she imparts teachings on Buddhist meditation in various centers across the United States and Europe. Brach is known for her expertise in Engaged Buddhism, focusing on applying Buddhist principles and mindfulness meditation to emotional healing. She has authored multiple influential books on these topics, including Radical Acceptance, True Refuge, and Radical Compassion.

Chad Allen is an American psychologist and retired actor known for his successful career in the entertainment industry. He began acting at a young age and received recognition for his talent, winning three Young Artist Awards and being honored with a GLAAD Media Award. Allen gained fame as a teen idol in the late 1980s through his roles in popular TV series such as "Our House" and "My Two Dads." He later transitioned to adult roles, notably portraying Matthew Cooper on the CBS drama "Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman" before retiring from acting in 2015.

Benjamin Bloom was an influential American educational psychologist known for his work in classifying educational objectives and developing the theory of mastery learning. He played a significant role in the development of a comprehensive system for describing and assessing educational outcomes in the mid-1950s. His work has had a lasting impact on educators worldwide, shaping their practices and philosophies throughout the latter part of the twentieth century. Bloom's contributions have helped to enhance the understanding and implementation of effective teaching and learning strategies in educational settings.

Christine Blasey Ford is an American psychology professor at Palo Alto University and a research psychologist at Stanford University School of Medicine. She specializes in developing statistical models for research projects and has worked as a professor in the Collaborative Clinical Psychology Program at Stanford University School of Medicine. In September 2018, Ford accused then-U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in 1982 when they were teenagers. She testified about her allegations during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing regarding Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination later that month.

Dan Ariely is an Israeli-American professor and author renowned for his work in psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University. He has co-founded multiple companies applying behavioral science principles. Ariely authored three New York Times bestsellers and produced a documentary on dishonesty. Despite a retracted paper due to falsified data, a subsequent investigation found no evidence of his knowledge. His influential book "Predictably Irrational" inspired the creation of a television series, The Irrational, based on his life and research, which premiered in 2023 on NBC.

Robert Cialdini is an esteemed American psychologist renowned for his work in the fields of psychology and marketing. As the Regents' Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University, he has made significant contributions to the understanding of human behavior and persuasion techniques. Cialdini has also served as a visiting professor at prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, where he shared his expertise in marketing, business, and psychology. Through his research and teachings, Cialdini has had a profound impact on the study of social influence and persuasion.

Louis Leon Thurstone was an influential American figure in psychometrics and psychophysics. He is credited with developing the law of comparative judgment and making significant contributions to factor analysis. Thurstone's work has had a lasting impact on the field of psychology and his research has been widely cited. He is recognized as one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century, ranking 88th in a survey conducted by the Review of General Psychology.

James Jerome Gibson was an influential American psychologist known for his significant contributions to the field of visual perception. He advocated for ecological psychology, challenging the prevailing notion that conscious visual perception is actively constructed by the nervous system. Gibson believed in direct perception of environmental stimuli without additional cognitive processing. His work has had a lasting impact, with a Review of General Psychology survey ranking him as the 88th most cited psychologist of the 20th century, alongside other notable figures in the field.

Mary Whiton Calkins was an influential American philosopher and psychologist known for her groundbreaking work on memory, dreams, and the self. Despite facing discrimination due to her gender, she made significant contributions to the field of psychology. Calkins established the first psychological laboratory for women at Wellesley College and was the first woman to complete the requirements for a doctoral degree in psychology at Harvard University. She went on to become the president of both the American Psychological Association and the American Philosophical Association. Calkins taught psychology and philosophy at Wellesley College for four decades and conducted research at Harvard University, leaving a lasting legacy in the history of women psychologists.

Otto F. Kernberg is an Austrian-born American psychoanalyst and professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. He is renowned for his pioneering work in psychoanalytic theories, particularly focusing on borderline personality organization and narcissistic pathology. Kernberg's contributions have been instrumental in merging postwar ego psychology with Kleinian and object relations perspectives, advancing the field of modern psychoanalysis. His integrative writings have played a crucial role in shaping modern object relations theory, establishing him as a prominent figure in the realm of psychiatry and psychoanalysis.

Hugo Münsterberg was a pioneering German-American psychologist known for his work in applied psychology across various fields such as industrial/organizational, legal, medical, clinical, educational, and business settings. He made significant contributions to the understanding of human behavior and psychological principles in practical contexts. Münsterberg faced challenges during World War I due to his conflicting loyalties to the United States and Germany, leading to mixed reactions to his defense of Germany's actions. His work continues to influence the fields of psychology and applied sciences to this day.

Howard Earl Gardner is an American developmental psychologist and the John H. and Elisabeth A. Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard University. He was a founding member of Harvard Project Zero in 1967 and held leadership roles at that research center until 2023. Gardner is the co-director of The Good Project since 1995. He has authored over thirty books and numerous research articles, with a focus on his theory of multiple intelligences introduced in his 1983 book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Despite retiring from teaching in 2019, Gardner remains active in research, writing, and blogging.

Elizabeth F. Loftus is an American psychologist renowned for her work on the misinformation effect, false memory, and criticism of recovered memory therapies. Her research spans topics such as the impact of phrasing on perceptions of events, techniques like the "lost in the mall" scenario, and manipulation of food preferences through false memories. Loftus has served on the executive council of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, provided expert testimony in numerous court cases, and authored several books, including "The Myth of Repressed Memory" and "Witness for the Defense."