Gordon Allport
Founding figure of personality psychology, emphasizing individual uniqueness and context.
Chronology: 1897-11-11 – 1967-10-09
Origins & Early Life
Gordon William Allport (November 11, 1897 – October 9, 1967) was an American psychologist. Allport was one of the first psychologists to focus on the study of the personality, and is often referred to as one of the founding figures of personality psychology. He contributed to the formation of values scales and rejected both a psychoanalytic approach to personality, which he thought often was too deeply interpretive, and a behavioral approach, which he thought did not provide deep enough interpretations from their data. Instead of these popular approaches, he developed an eclectic theory based on traits.
Pivotal Works & Achievements
He emphasized the uniqueness of each individual and the importance of the present context, as opposed to history, for understanding the personality. Allport had a profound and lasting influence on the field of psychology. Part of his influence stemmed from his knack for exploring and broadly conceptualizing important topics (e.g., rumor, prejudice, religion, traits). Another part of his influence resulted from the deep and lasting impression he made on his students during his long teaching career, many of whom went on to have important careers in psychology. Among his many students...
Enduring Legacy & Impact
The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.
Source: Wikipedia