Readers Respond: Who Is the Most Influential Psychologist?

Responses: 112

By Kendra Cherry, About.com Guide

After carrying out an HNC in Childcare & Education I believe we should take on board the work of John Bowlby,s Attachment theory, before we look at another theorist. If children aren't able to make attachments outwith the primary carer how can we expect them to make attachments to their teacher when they go to school, which will be a barrier to learning. Tina Bruce and other play theorists suggest that children learn through play, but other theorists suggest that parents are their children's first educators but if they cant make attachments then the provider of the play will struggle to enable the child to progress in the setting. I believe that children do progress through stages at different times but the attachment has to hare happened so the children will feel safe, secure and comfortable with the provider in order to progress.
—Guest allison

His work in "Ecopsychology" revolutionized how we understand the Human-Nature relationship.
—Guest Yoohoo

Freud create an impact on dreams which is still much meaningful to the modern psychology. Wundt introduced introspection, and much influence on psychology and to be first man to help psychology break out of philosophy in it's own right.
—Guest freud and wundt

He is so intellectual and very precise on his mind for his madness and conclusions that leave you still in trembles of not knowing.
—Guest Destinee Earnheart(16)

To me Jung is the most influential after Freud. His concepts like collective unconscious, archetypes were priceless.....
—shubhangiathalye

I am in agreement with other who thought that Freud should have been number one, as his influence is still amongst us and without a doubt his theories have shaped our behaviour and hidden feelings. I was a bit surprised to see that Bowlby wasn't featured on this list, as his attachment theories will always be relevant int he health professions, especially childcare.
—object_relations

I guess Freud is the most influential psychologist in the history of psychology.
—Guest iman

Albert Bandura is at the forefront of the movement to mesh the learning and cognitive theories for an integrated, more holistic (and therefore more realistic) view of human behavior. His theory of reciprocal determinism shows the human as a thinking, reasoning being while addressing the role of environment and experiences in shaping both behavior and cognition. His emphasis on observational learning and his "Bobo doll" studies play significant roles in our understanding of parenting, role models, the influence of the media, and so forth. His theory is eclectic in that it comes from and can be applied to a range of psychological perspectives, including the learning, developmental, cognitive and socio-cultural fields. The debate between studying what can be seen and examining internal cognitive states is settled in his theories, as attempting to extricate mind from behavior is patently absurd. He acknowledges and explains the interaction.
—Guest Albert Bandura

Dreams give as a personal insight into our subconcious mind which controls the waking mind. With the help of Jungs ideas you can take your dream life and insights into your own hands.
—Guest Jung

I think everyone who says: "I am a psychologist" needs to know about Dimitri Uznadze - Georgian Psychologist and Philosopher. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dimitri_Uznadze
—Guest kognicia

Pavlov, I strongly believe. He is the most influential man in psychology. Thinking of dogs and conditioning them is quite a brilliant discovery.
—Guest Geofrey yator

There is no comprehensive study of psychology without Jung. Though his theory of synchronicity is far fetched. His analysis of archetypes and complexes is a different perspective to the sexual imagery predominant in Freud's studies.
—Guest guest

Freud and Vygotsky cannot be left in the list in psychology you would find most their theories. Especially vygotsky - he took more time before he discover his theories and they are not just based on children as Freud did. Even though Freud focused on children in most of his theories, I still can't leave him in the list.
—Guest zamantande

How to choose? They both deserve recognition for their important work in understanding human psychology.
—Guest cluster c

Kendra Cherry
Psychology Guide