The list below provides a snapshot of the careers of 10 leading psychologists and their most important contributions to the field. Developed using the rigorously generated study of “The 100 Most Eminent Psychologists of the 20th Century” as a guide, this list is by no means exhaustive. Instead, the purpose of this list is to offer a glimpse into some of the major theoretical outlooks that have influenced not only psychology but also the larger culture. 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.” “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." His social comparison theory says that you evaluate your ideas by comparing them with what other people believe. You are also more likely to seek out other people who share your beliefs and values. In addition, James contributed to functionalism, pragmatism, and influenced many students of psychology during his 35-year teaching career. 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.” Starting in the 1960s and through the 1990s that many of his writings were translated from Russian, but 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.
