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G. Stanley Hall (bottom center in photo) was a psychologist best known as the first American to earn a Ph.D. in psychology and the first president of the American Psychological Association. He also had a significant influence on the early development of psychology in the United States.

Through his work as a teacher, Hall influenced a number of other leading psychologists, includingJohn DeweyandLewis Terman, a student of his. According to a 2002 review of eminent psychologists of the twentieth century, Hall was ranked as the 72nd most influential psychologist, a ranking he shared with Terman.

Major Branches of Psychology

Best Known For

His Early Life

Granville Stanley Hall was born on February 1, 1844. He grew up on a farm in Ashfield, Massachusetts. His father was a politician and his mother a teacher, an upbringing that had an early influence on his love of learning.

He enrolled at Williston Academy in 1861, but later transferred to Williams College. After his graduation in 1867, he attended Union Theological Seminary. His initial studies and work centered on theology.

Hall went on to earn a doctorate in psychology from Harvard University under psychologistWilliam Jamesand Henry P. Bowditch. G. Stanley Hall holds the distinction of being the first American to receive a Ph.D. in psychology. Hall also studied briefly in Wundt’s experimental lab, noted as the first experimental psychology laboratory in the world.

Who Founded the First Psychology Lab?

Career and Accomplishments

When he returned to the U.S. following his time working with Wundt, Hall presented a series of lectures focused on education and then published his first written work, an analysis of German culture.

While G. Stanley Hall initially began his career teaching English and philosophy, he eventually took a position as Professor of Psychology and Pedagogics at John Hopkins University. Among his many accomplishments was the creation of theAmerican Journal of Psychologyin 1887.

During his time at John Hopkins, he also established the first experimental psychology laboratory in the United States.

In 1888, Hall left John Hopkins University and became President of Clark University, where he would remain for the next 32 years.

Hall had a wide circle of friends and professional acquaintances throughout the world but also had his critics. He was professionally prolific, writing extensively and also founding a number of journals and associations.

In 1892, Hall was elected as the first president of the American Psychological Association. In 1909, he famously invited a group of psychologists, includingSigmund Freud, to speak at Clark University. The trip was Freud’s first and only visit to the United States.

Sigmund Freud’s Life, Theories, and Influence

Contributions to Psychology

Hall devoted a large amount of his work tounderstanding adolescent development, particularly in the area of aggression. He is often referred to as “the father of adolescence” thanks to his early interest and emphasis on this critical point in development.

He described two differenttypes of aggression, which were relational aggression and physical aggression. Where he suggested that physical aggression was more common among males, he believed that females were more likely to exhibit relational aggression. This type of aggression involves tactics such as social exclusion and gossip.

Perhaps his greatest contribution was to the development and growth of early psychology. By the year 1893, Hall had supervised 11 out of the 14 doctorates in psychology that had been awarded in the United States.Some of those who studied under his influence includeLewis Terman,John Dewey,andJames McKeen Cattell.

Hall’s contributions helped establish psychology in the United States and paved the way for future psychologists.

He died on April 24, 1924, at the age of 80.

Select Publications

The Origins of Psychology

3 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.

Haggbloom SJ, Warnick R, Warnick JE, et. al.The 100 most eminent psychologists of the 20th century.Review of General Psychology. 2002;6(2):139–152. doi:10.1037/1089-2680.6.2.139

Arnett JJ.G. Stanley Hall’sAdolescence: Brilliance and nonsense.Hist Psychol. 2006;9(3):186-197. doi:10.1037/1093-4510.9.3.186

Parry M.G. Stanley Hall: Psychologist and early gerontologist.Am J Public Health. 2006;96(7):1161. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.090647Thorndike, EL.Biographical Memoir of Granville Stanley Hall.Vol 12. National Academy of Sciences; 1925.

Parry M.G. Stanley Hall: Psychologist and early gerontologist.Am J Public Health. 2006;96(7):1161. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.090647

Thorndike, EL.Biographical Memoir of Granville Stanley Hall.Vol 12. National Academy of Sciences; 1925.

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