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At a GlanceSome of the most famous psychologists in history include many names you might be familiar with, like Skinner, Freud, Bandura, and Piaget. A few might be less recognizable, but their mark on the history of psychology is without question. Keep reading to learn more about these famous psychologists, their major theories, and how they influenced our understanding of the human mind and behavior.
At a Glance
Some of the most famous psychologists in history include many names you might be familiar with, like Skinner, Freud, Bandura, and Piaget. A few might be less recognizable, but their mark on the history of psychology is without question. Keep reading to learn more about these famous psychologists, their major theories, and how they influenced our understanding of the human mind and behavior.
1B. F. SkinnerApic/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesB.F. Skinner is one of history’s most famous psychologists. He was a staunch advocate forbehaviorism, which made him a dominating force in psychology so much—so that he has been described as the most eminent psychologist of the 20th century.According to Skinner, all learning is the result of conditioning processes viareinforcementandpunishment. When a behavior is reinforced, it is more likely to occur again in the future. If it is punished, it is less likely to occur again.Many therapy techniques based on his theories, including behavior modification and token economies, are still used extensively today.Skinner is remembered for his concepts ofoperant conditioningandschedules of reinforcement.
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B. F. SkinnerApic/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesB.F. Skinner is one of history’s most famous psychologists. He was a staunch advocate forbehaviorism, which made him a dominating force in psychology so much—so that he has been described as the most eminent psychologist of the 20th century.According to Skinner, all learning is the result of conditioning processes viareinforcementandpunishment. When a behavior is reinforced, it is more likely to occur again in the future. If it is punished, it is less likely to occur again.Many therapy techniques based on his theories, including behavior modification and token economies, are still used extensively today.Skinner is remembered for his concepts ofoperant conditioningandschedules of reinforcement.
B. F. Skinner
Apic/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
B.F. Skinner is one of history’s most famous psychologists. He was a staunch advocate forbehaviorism, which made him a dominating force in psychology so much—so that he has been described as the most eminent psychologist of the 20th century.
According to Skinner, all learning is the result of conditioning processes viareinforcementandpunishment. When a behavior is reinforced, it is more likely to occur again in the future. If it is punished, it is less likely to occur again.
Many therapy techniques based on his theories, including behavior modification and token economies, are still used extensively today.
Skinner is remembered for his concepts ofoperant conditioningandschedules of reinforcement.
2Jean PiagetJean Piagetwas the psychologist who was most influential in shaping our understanding of cognitive growth throughout childhood. His theory ofcognitive developmentmade him one of the most famous psychologists in history.His work had a particularly significant impact on the understanding of children’s intellectual growth. His research contributed to the growth ofdevelopmental psychology, cognitive psychology, genetic epistemology, and education reform.Albert Einstein once described Piaget’s observations on children’s intellectual growth and thought processes as a discovery “so simple only a genius could have thought of it.”
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Jean PiagetJean Piagetwas the psychologist who was most influential in shaping our understanding of cognitive growth throughout childhood. His theory ofcognitive developmentmade him one of the most famous psychologists in history.His work had a particularly significant impact on the understanding of children’s intellectual growth. His research contributed to the growth ofdevelopmental psychology, cognitive psychology, genetic epistemology, and education reform.Albert Einstein once described Piaget’s observations on children’s intellectual growth and thought processes as a discovery “so simple only a genius could have thought of it.”
Jean Piaget
Jean Piagetwas the psychologist who was most influential in shaping our understanding of cognitive growth throughout childhood. His theory ofcognitive developmentmade him one of the most famous psychologists in history.
His work had a particularly significant impact on the understanding of children’s intellectual growth. His research contributed to the growth ofdevelopmental psychology, cognitive psychology, genetic epistemology, and education reform.
Albert Einstein once described Piaget’s observations on children’s intellectual growth and thought processes as a discovery “so simple only a genius could have thought of it.”
3Sigmund FreudWhen people think of famous psychologists, their minds immediately go toSigmund Freud. While many of his theories were controversial, his work supported the belief that not all mental illnesses have physiological causes.His theories and work also introduced the idea that talking about psychological problems could help alleviate them. This introduced the idea of talk therapy, which has had a profound effect on how we view and treat mental illness.Freud also offered evidence that cultural differences impact psychology and behavior. His work contributed to our understanding of human development, personality,clinical psychology, andabnormal psychology.
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Sigmund FreudWhen people think of famous psychologists, their minds immediately go toSigmund Freud. While many of his theories were controversial, his work supported the belief that not all mental illnesses have physiological causes.His theories and work also introduced the idea that talking about psychological problems could help alleviate them. This introduced the idea of talk therapy, which has had a profound effect on how we view and treat mental illness.Freud also offered evidence that cultural differences impact psychology and behavior. His work contributed to our understanding of human development, personality,clinical psychology, andabnormal psychology.
Sigmund Freud
When people think of famous psychologists, their minds immediately go toSigmund Freud. While many of his theories were controversial, his work supported the belief that not all mental illnesses have physiological causes.
His theories and work also introduced the idea that talking about psychological problems could help alleviate them. This introduced the idea of talk therapy, which has had a profound effect on how we view and treat mental illness.
Freud also offered evidence that cultural differences impact psychology and behavior. His work contributed to our understanding of human development, personality,clinical psychology, andabnormal psychology.
4Albert BanduraAlbert Bandura’swork is considered part of the cognitive revolution in psychology that began in the late 1960s. Bandura’ssocial learning theorystressed the importance ofobservational learning, imitation, and modeling.“Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do,” Bandura explained in his 1977 book "Social Learning Theory.“Bandura’s influence is still widely felt today as researchers continue to debate the effects of observed violence, such as in movies and video games, on adolescent behavior.
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Albert BanduraAlbert Bandura’swork is considered part of the cognitive revolution in psychology that began in the late 1960s. Bandura’ssocial learning theorystressed the importance ofobservational learning, imitation, and modeling.“Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do,” Bandura explained in his 1977 book "Social Learning Theory.“Bandura’s influence is still widely felt today as researchers continue to debate the effects of observed violence, such as in movies and video games, on adolescent behavior.
Albert Bandura
Albert Bandura’swork is considered part of the cognitive revolution in psychology that began in the late 1960s. Bandura’ssocial learning theorystressed the importance ofobservational learning, imitation, and modeling.
“Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do,” Bandura explained in his 1977 book "Social Learning Theory.”
Bandura’s influence is still widely felt today as researchers continue to debate the effects of observed violence, such as in movies and video games, on adolescent behavior.
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Leon Festinger
Leon Festinger developed the theories ofcognitive dissonanceand social comparison to explain the ways in which social conditions influence human behavior.
Cognitive dissonance is the state of discomfort you feel when you hold two conflicting beliefs. For example, you may smoke even though you know it is bad for your health.
6William JamesPsychologist and philosopherWilliam Jamesis often referred to as the father of American psychology. His teachings and writings helped establish psychology as a science.Among his many accomplishments was the publication of the 1,200-page text “The Principles of Psychology,” which quickly became a classic in the field.In addition, James contributed tofunctionalism, pragmatism, and influenced many students of psychology during his 35-year teaching career.
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William JamesPsychologist and philosopherWilliam Jamesis often referred to as the father of American psychology. His teachings and writings helped establish psychology as a science.Among his many accomplishments was the publication of the 1,200-page text “The Principles of Psychology,” which quickly became a classic in the field.In addition, James contributed tofunctionalism, pragmatism, and influenced many students of psychology during his 35-year teaching career.
William James
Psychologist and philosopherWilliam Jamesis often referred to as the father of American psychology. His teachings and writings helped establish psychology as a science.
Among his many accomplishments was the publication of the 1,200-page text “The Principles of Psychology,” which quickly became a classic in the field.
In addition, James contributed tofunctionalism, pragmatism, and influenced many students of psychology during his 35-year teaching career.
7Ivan PavlovOne of the individuals who is often regarded as one of the most famous psychologists wasn’t actually a psychologist at all. Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist whose research on conditioned reflexes andclassical conditioninginfluenced the rise of behaviorism in psychology.According to Pavlov, when a stimulus is paired with an automatic, conditioned stimulus, the naturally occurring response is automatically triggered. Pairing a neutral stimulus with it will eventually lead to that stimulus also triggering the same response via association.Pavlov’s experimental methods helped move psychology away from introspection and subjective assessments to the objective measurement of behavior.
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Ivan PavlovOne of the individuals who is often regarded as one of the most famous psychologists wasn’t actually a psychologist at all. Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist whose research on conditioned reflexes andclassical conditioninginfluenced the rise of behaviorism in psychology.According to Pavlov, when a stimulus is paired with an automatic, conditioned stimulus, the naturally occurring response is automatically triggered. Pairing a neutral stimulus with it will eventually lead to that stimulus also triggering the same response via association.Pavlov’s experimental methods helped move psychology away from introspection and subjective assessments to the objective measurement of behavior.
Ivan Pavlov
One of the individuals who is often regarded as one of the most famous psychologists wasn’t actually a psychologist at all. Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist whose research on conditioned reflexes andclassical conditioninginfluenced the rise of behaviorism in psychology.
According to Pavlov, when a stimulus is paired with an automatic, conditioned stimulus, the naturally occurring response is automatically triggered. Pairing a neutral stimulus with it will eventually lead to that stimulus also triggering the same response via association.
Pavlov’s experimental methods helped move psychology away from introspection and subjective assessments to the objective measurement of behavior.
8Carl RogersCarl Rogersemphasized human potential, which had an enormous influence on psychology and education. He became one of the major humanist thinkers and a significant influence in therapy with hisclient-centered therapy.Client-centered therapy is a non-directive approach to therapy in which the client guides the treatment process. This therapy is based on the idea that the client is an expert in their own life, so they are in the best position to decide what they need and how to achieve it.His daughter, Natalie Rogers, described him as “a model for compassion and democratic ideals in his own life, and in his work as an educator, writer, and therapist.”
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Carl RogersCarl Rogersemphasized human potential, which had an enormous influence on psychology and education. He became one of the major humanist thinkers and a significant influence in therapy with hisclient-centered therapy.Client-centered therapy is a non-directive approach to therapy in which the client guides the treatment process. This therapy is based on the idea that the client is an expert in their own life, so they are in the best position to decide what they need and how to achieve it.His daughter, Natalie Rogers, described him as “a model for compassion and democratic ideals in his own life, and in his work as an educator, writer, and therapist.”
Carl Rogers
Carl Rogersemphasized human potential, which had an enormous influence on psychology and education. He became one of the major humanist thinkers and a significant influence in therapy with hisclient-centered therapy.
Client-centered therapy is a non-directive approach to therapy in which the client guides the treatment process. This therapy is based on the idea that the client is an expert in their own life, so they are in the best position to decide what they need and how to achieve it.
His daughter, Natalie Rogers, described him as “a model for compassion and democratic ideals in his own life, and in his work as an educator, writer, and therapist.”
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Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson’s stage theory ofpsychosocial developmenthelped create interest and research on human development through the lifespan, which also help make him one of the most famous psychologists in history.
According to his theory, people progress through a series of eight life stages. At each stage, they face a developmental crisis, and successfully coping with that challenge can lead to the formation of qualities that affect future development.
10Lev VygotskyLev Vygotskywas a contemporary of some more famous psychologists including Piaget, Freud, Skinner, and Pavlov, yet his work never achieved the same eminence during his lifetime. This is largely because much of his writing remained inaccessible to the Western world until quite recently.Starting in the 1960s and through the 1990s, many of his writings were translated from Russian. As a result, his work has become enormously influential in recent decades, particularly in the fields of educational psychology and child development.While his premature death at age 38 put a halt to his work, he went on to become one of the most frequently cited psychologists of the 20th century.
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Lev VygotskyLev Vygotskywas a contemporary of some more famous psychologists including Piaget, Freud, Skinner, and Pavlov, yet his work never achieved the same eminence during his lifetime. This is largely because much of his writing remained inaccessible to the Western world until quite recently.Starting in the 1960s and through the 1990s, many of his writings were translated from Russian. As a result, his work has become enormously influential in recent decades, particularly in the fields of educational psychology and child development.While his premature death at age 38 put a halt to his work, he went on to become one of the most frequently cited psychologists of the 20th century.
Lev Vygotsky
Lev Vygotskywas a contemporary of some more famous psychologists including Piaget, Freud, Skinner, and Pavlov, yet his work never achieved the same eminence during his lifetime. This is largely because much of his writing remained inaccessible to the Western world until quite recently.
Starting in the 1960s and through the 1990s, many of his writings were translated from Russian. As a result, his work has become enormously influential in recent decades, particularly in the fields of educational psychology and child development.
While his premature death at age 38 put a halt to his work, he went on to become one of the most frequently cited psychologists of the 20th century.
Takeaways
A Historical Timeline of Modern Psychology
10 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Roediger HL 3rd.Varieties of fame in psychology.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(6):882-887. doi:10.1177/1745691616662457Feldman RS, Sapio M, Kozmová M, et al.Skinner, b. F. In: Rieber RW, ed.Encyclopedia of the History of Psychological Theories. Springer US; 2012:996-997. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0463-8_137Patanella D.Piaget, Jean. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:1103-1104. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2165Grzybowski A, Żołnierz J.Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).J Neurol. 2021;268(6):2299-2300. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09972-4Pajares F.Bandura, Albert. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:202-204. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_280Atingdui N.Cognitive dissonance. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:380-381. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_599Leary DE.William James and British thought: then and now.BJPsych Bull. 2020;44(2):53-56. doi:10.1192/bjb.2019.56Lilley M, Yeater D, Melzer D.Ivan Pavlov. In: Vonk J, Shackelford T, eds.Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer International Publishing; 2018:1-6. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_951-1Haggbloom SJ.The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the Twentieth Century.PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2001. doi:10.1037/e413802005-787Derouesné C.Lev Semenovich Vygotsky (1896-1924): an introduction to the historico-cultural psychology and the development of the higher psychological processes. Lev Semionovitch Vygotski (1896-1924) : une introduction à la psychologie historico-culturelle et au développement des fonctions psychiques supérieures.Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2017;15(3):295-307. doi:10.1684/pnv.2017.0690
10 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Roediger HL 3rd.Varieties of fame in psychology.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(6):882-887. doi:10.1177/1745691616662457Feldman RS, Sapio M, Kozmová M, et al.Skinner, b. F. In: Rieber RW, ed.Encyclopedia of the History of Psychological Theories. Springer US; 2012:996-997. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0463-8_137Patanella D.Piaget, Jean. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:1103-1104. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2165Grzybowski A, Żołnierz J.Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).J Neurol. 2021;268(6):2299-2300. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09972-4Pajares F.Bandura, Albert. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:202-204. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_280Atingdui N.Cognitive dissonance. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:380-381. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_599Leary DE.William James and British thought: then and now.BJPsych Bull. 2020;44(2):53-56. doi:10.1192/bjb.2019.56Lilley M, Yeater D, Melzer D.Ivan Pavlov. In: Vonk J, Shackelford T, eds.Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer International Publishing; 2018:1-6. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_951-1Haggbloom SJ.The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the Twentieth Century.PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2001. doi:10.1037/e413802005-787Derouesné C.Lev Semenovich Vygotsky (1896-1924): an introduction to the historico-cultural psychology and the development of the higher psychological processes. Lev Semionovitch Vygotski (1896-1924) : une introduction à la psychologie historico-culturelle et au développement des fonctions psychiques supérieures.Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2017;15(3):295-307. doi:10.1684/pnv.2017.0690
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Roediger HL 3rd.Varieties of fame in psychology.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(6):882-887. doi:10.1177/1745691616662457Feldman RS, Sapio M, Kozmová M, et al.Skinner, b. F. In: Rieber RW, ed.Encyclopedia of the History of Psychological Theories. Springer US; 2012:996-997. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0463-8_137Patanella D.Piaget, Jean. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:1103-1104. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2165Grzybowski A, Żołnierz J.Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).J Neurol. 2021;268(6):2299-2300. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09972-4Pajares F.Bandura, Albert. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:202-204. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_280Atingdui N.Cognitive dissonance. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:380-381. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_599Leary DE.William James and British thought: then and now.BJPsych Bull. 2020;44(2):53-56. doi:10.1192/bjb.2019.56Lilley M, Yeater D, Melzer D.Ivan Pavlov. In: Vonk J, Shackelford T, eds.Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer International Publishing; 2018:1-6. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_951-1Haggbloom SJ.The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the Twentieth Century.PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2001. doi:10.1037/e413802005-787Derouesné C.Lev Semenovich Vygotsky (1896-1924): an introduction to the historico-cultural psychology and the development of the higher psychological processes. Lev Semionovitch Vygotski (1896-1924) : une introduction à la psychologie historico-culturelle et au développement des fonctions psychiques supérieures.Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2017;15(3):295-307. doi:10.1684/pnv.2017.0690
Roediger HL 3rd.Varieties of fame in psychology.Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(6):882-887. doi:10.1177/1745691616662457
Feldman RS, Sapio M, Kozmová M, et al.Skinner, b. F. In: Rieber RW, ed.Encyclopedia of the History of Psychological Theories. Springer US; 2012:996-997. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0463-8_137
Patanella D.Piaget, Jean. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:1103-1104. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2165
Grzybowski A, Żołnierz J.Sigmund Freud (1856-1939).J Neurol. 2021;268(6):2299-2300. doi:10.1007/s00415-020-09972-4
Pajares F.Bandura, Albert. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:202-204. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_280
Atingdui N.Cognitive dissonance. In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer US; 2011:380-381. doi:10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_599
Leary DE.William James and British thought: then and now.BJPsych Bull. 2020;44(2):53-56. doi:10.1192/bjb.2019.56
Lilley M, Yeater D, Melzer D.Ivan Pavlov. In: Vonk J, Shackelford T, eds.Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer International Publishing; 2018:1-6. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_951-1
Haggbloom SJ.The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the Twentieth Century.PsycEXTRA Dataset. 2001. doi:10.1037/e413802005-787
Derouesné C.Lev Semenovich Vygotsky (1896-1924): an introduction to the historico-cultural psychology and the development of the higher psychological processes. Lev Semionovitch Vygotski (1896-1924) : une introduction à la psychologie historico-culturelle et au développement des fonctions psychiques supérieures.Geriatr Psychol Neuropsychiatr Vieil. 2017;15(3):295-307. doi:10.1684/pnv.2017.0690
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