A Brief Overview of David Wechsler’s Contribution to Psychology
David Wechsler (1896 – 1981) was an influential figure in the field of psychology. He is most known for his development of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). Wechsler’s works and ideas have had a lasting impact on the field of psychology and have been widely applied in clinical and educational settings.
Wechsler was born in Romania and immigrated to the United States in 1913. He studied psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and received his PhD in 1926. After graduating, Wechsler began his career as a research psychologist at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. In 1931, Wechsler published his first book, “The Measurement of Adult Intelligence,” which was the first of its kind to be published in the United States. This book was the basis for his development of the WAIS. Wechsler also wrote several other books including “The Measurement and Appraisal of Adult Intelligence” (1939), “Manual for the Measurement and Appraisal of Adult Intelligence” (1958), and “Manual for the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence” (1967).
Wechsler’s work on intelligence testing revolutionized the field of psychology. His WAIS was one of the first intelligence tests to measure verbal, performance, and full-scale IQ. It was based on the idea that intelligence is composed of a variety of different skills and abilities. Wechsler’s work also had a major influence on the field of clinical psychology. His tests have been used to assess and diagnose mental disorders and to identify learning disabilities. Wechsler’s work has also been applied in educational settings to identify students with learning difficulties and to create individualized learning plans.
In conclusion, David Wechsler was an influential figure in the field of psychology. His work on intelligence testing has had a lasting impact on the field and has been widely applied in clinical and educational settings.
References
Groth-Marnat, G. (2003). Handbook of psychological assessment. John Wiley & Sons.
Kaufman, A. S., & Lichtenberger, E. O. (2006). Essentials of WAIS-IV assessment. John Wiley & Sons.
Wechsler, D. (1931). The measurement of adult intelligence. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Wechsler, D. (1939). The measurement and appraisal of adult intelligence. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Wechsler, D. (1958). Manual for the measurement and appraisal of adult intelligence. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Wechsler, D. (1967). Manual for the Wechsler preschool and primary scale of intelligence. New York: The Psychological Corporation.