Origins & Early Life

Elliot Aronson (born January 9, 1932) is an American psychologist who has carried out experiments on the theory of cognitive dissonance, and invented the Jigsaw Classroom, a cooperative teaching technique that facilitates learning while reducing interethnic hostility and prejudice. In his 1972 social psychology textbook, The Social Animal, he stated Aronson's First Law: "People who do crazy things are not necessarily crazy", thus asserting the importance of situational factors in bizarre behavior. He is the only person in the 120-year history of the American Psychological Association to have won all three of its major awards: for writing, for teaching, and for research. In 2007, he received the William James Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Association for Psychological Science, in which he was cited as the scientist who "fundamentally changed the way we look at everyday life".

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A Review of General Psychology survey, published in 2002, ranked Aronson as the 78th most cited psychologist of the 20th century. He officially retired in 1994 but continues to teach and write. Aronson grew up in extreme poverty in Revere, Massachusetts, during the Great...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abebe Bikila — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Ethiopian Olympic marathon champion, known for his barefoot victories in Rome and Tokyo.
• Al Arbour — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): Pioneering Canadian hockey player, coach, and executive known for leading the Islanders.
• Alan Bean — Contemporary (Born in 1932) (1932): American astronaut, naval officer, and lunar explorer who walked on the Moon.
• Adrien-Marie Legendre — Shared historical date (01-09 · Died) (1833): Pioneering French mathematician known for Legendre polynomials and least squares method.
• Alexander Herzen — Shared historical date (01-09 · Died) (1870): Pioneering Russian socialist thinker and writer, precursor to agrarian populism.
• Alberto Santos-Dumont — Historical peer (Died in 1932) (1932): Brazilian pioneer of aviation, instrumental in developing both airships and fixed-wing aircraft.
• Alexander Grin — Historical peer (Died in 1932) (1932): A celebrated Russian writer known for romantic fantasy novels and sea adventures.
• Abraham Joshua Heschel — Historical peer (Died in 1972) (1972): Leading 20th-century American rabbi, theologian, and philosopher.
• Alessandro Nivola — Historical peer (Born in 1972) (1972): Versatile American actor known for film and stage work, building a notable career.
• Al Oerter — Historical peer (Died in 2007) (2007): Four-time Olympic champion in the discus throw, pioneering athletic consistency.
• 1932 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1932
• January 9 (01-09) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 9