Origins & Early Life

Paul Ekman (February 15, 1934 – November 17, 2025) was an American psychologist and professor at the University of California, San Francisco, who was a pioneer in the study of emotions and their relation to facial expressions. He was ranked 59th out of the 100 most eminent psychologists of the twentieth century in 2002 by the Review of General Psychology. His empirical and theoretical work helped to restart the study of emotion and non-verbal communication in the field of psychology, and introduced new quantitative frameworks which researchers could use to do so. He also carried out important early work on the physiology of emotions.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Ekman was born in 1934 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in a Jewish family in New Jersey, aside from a brief spell in California during World War II. His father was a pediatrician and his mother was an attorney. His sister, Joyce Steingart, was a psychoanalytic psychologist who practiced in New York City. Ekman originally wanted to be a psychotherapist, but when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958 he found that research could change army routines, making them more humane.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This experience converted him from wanting...

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• 1934 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1934
• February 15 (02-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 15
• 2025 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2025
• November 17 (11-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on November 17