Stanley Smith Stevens

Date of Birth: November 4, 1906

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: January 18, 1973

Biography

Stanley Smith Stevens was an influential American psychologist who is best known for his pioneering work in the fields of psychophysics and scaling theory. Born on November 4, 1906, in Ogden, Utah, Stevens made significant contributions to the understanding of sensory perception and measurement. He introduced the concept of Stevens’ Power Law, which describes the relationship between the magnitude of a physical stimulus and its perceived intensity or strength. Stevens earned his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1933 and remained closely associated with the institution throughout his career. He was a professor at Harvard and became a leading figure in the field of psychology. His work laid the foundation for modern psychophysical methods and has had a lasting impact on various domains, including auditory and visual perception, and the development of measurement scales in psychology. Stevens authored several notable books and articles, including “The Psychophysics of Sensory Function” and “Handbook of Experimental Psychology.” He was a member of numerous academic societies and received various honors for his work, including the American Psychological Association’s Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award. Stevens passed away on January 18, 1973, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking research and a profound influence on the study of human perception.

5 Interesting Facts about Stanley Smith Stevens

1. Stanley Smith Stevens was the first to formally define the term “psychophysics.”

2. He developed the Stevens’ Power Law, which quantifies the relationship between stimulus intensity and sensation.

3. Stevens was instrumental in developing the four levels of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio.

4. He was a professor at Harvard University for over three decades.

5. Stevens was a founding editor of the journal “Perception & Psychophysics.”

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Stanley Smith Stevens

1. “Measurement is the assignment of numerals to objects and events according to rules.”

2. “The psychophysical law must be considered to be a fundamental law of nature.”

3. “Perception is not a process of passive reception but an active construction of reality.”

4. “The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.”

5. “Science is the attempt to make the chaotic diversity of our sense experience correspond to a logically uniform system of thought.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Stanley Smith Stevens was an academic and did not amass significant personal wealth. His contributions were primarily in the form of academic and scientific advancements rather than financial gain.