Ernest Hilgard

Ernest Ropiequet Hilgard (July 25, 1904 – October 22, 2001) was an influential psychologist who made significant contributions to the field of psychology in the 20th century. He is best known for his research on hypnosis and his development of the "neodissociation" theory of hypnosis.

Early Life and Education

Hilgard was born in Belleville, Illinois, in 1904. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois in 1924, where he developed an interest in psychology. He went on to earn his Ph.D. in psychology from Yale University in 1930.

Career

Hilgard spent the majority of his career at Stanford University, where he served as a professor of psychology from 1933 to 1974. During his tenure at Stanford, he conducted extensive research on hypnosis, leading to the development of his neodissociation theory. This theory suggests that hypnosis induces a split in awareness, allowing for different streams of consciousness to operate independently of each other.

In addition to his work on hypnosis, Hilgard also made significant contributions to the field of learning theory. He co-authored a widely used textbook, Introduction to Psychology, which has been translated into several languages and is still in use today.

Legacy

Hilgard's work has had a lasting impact on the field of psychology. His neodissociation theory of hypnosis remains influential and is widely cited in contemporary research. He was also a founding member of the American Psychological Society, now known as the Association for Psychological Science, and served as its president from 1956 to 1957.

Awards and Honors

Over the course of his career, Hilgard received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to psychology. These include the American Psychological Association's Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award in 1962 and the National Medal of Science in 1987.

See Also

• Hypnosis
• Neodissociation Theory
• Stanford University
• American Psychological Association