Origins & Early Life

Ulric Richard Gustav Neisser (December 8, 1928 – February 17, 2012) was a German-American psychologist, Cornell University professor, and member of the US National Academy of Sciences. He has been referred to as the "father of cognitive psychology". Neisser researched and wrote about perception and memory. He posited that a person's mental processes could be measured and subsequently analyzed.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In 1967, Neisser published Cognitive Psychology, which he later said was considered an attack on behaviorist psychological paradigms. Cognitive Psychology brought Neisser instant fame and recognition in the field of psychology. While Cognitive Psychology was considered unconventional, it was Neisser's Cognition and Reality that contained some of his most controversial ideas. A main theme in Cognition and Reality is Neisser's advocacy for experiments on perception occurring in natural ("ecologically valid") settings. Neisser postulated that memory is, largely, reconstructed and not a snap shot of the moment.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Neisser illustrated this during one of his highly publicized studies on people's memories of the Challenger explosion. In his later career, he summed up current research on human intelligence...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• 1928 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1928
• December 8 (12-08) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 8
• 2012 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2012
• February 17 (02-17) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on February 17