James McKeen Cattell

Pioneers of Human Behaviour: James McKeen Cattell
A Gateway to His Life, Theories, and Legacy

James McKeen Cattell helped transform psychology from a speculative branch of philosophy into a data-driven science. As the first to introduce the term “mental tests” and a tireless advocate for measurement, he built the scaffolding that allowed psychology to stand alongside the natural sciences. His career was brilliant, controversial, and deeply influential—shaping not just laboratories, but universities, journals, and the very infrastructure of modern science.

This concise yet powerful volume distils Cattell’s life and ideas into clear, engaging chapters. From his Quaker upbringing in Pennsylvania to his training in Wundt’s Leipzig laboratory, from his pioneering experiments on individual differences to his editorship of Science, the book reveals both the ambition and contradictions of a man who measured minds, ranked scientists, and fought fiercely for academic freedom.

Alongside an accessible exploration of Cattell’s theories, you’ll discover:

• How his introduction of “mental tests” laid the groundwork for modern psychological assessment.

• Why his obsession with rankings anticipated today’s citation indexes and university league tables.

• The controversies around his support for eugenics and his dismissal from Columbia University.

• The institutions he helped build, including Science and The Psychological Corporation.

• The enduring tension he embodied between the power and perils of measurement.

Part biography, part theory guide, and part reflection on legacy, this book offers a vivid portrait of a restless pioneer whose influence still echoes through psychology and science today. Accessible but never superficial, it speaks to students, professionals, and curious readers alike.

The Pioneers of Human Behaviour series celebrates the lives and legacies of psychology’s greatest minds, presenting timeless insights in a format designed to inspire, inform, and endure.