Famous Experiments

The Most Influential Psychological Experiments in History

illustration of Freud sat on a sofa reading
Famous Experiments

Ratman (Ernst Lanzer, 1909)

The ‘Rat Man’ is the famous pseudonym for Ernst Lanzer, a patient of Sigmund Freud whose case became the foundational study of obsessional neurosis (what...

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test
Famous Experiments

Baron-Cohen et al. (eyes test)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

doodling
Famous Experiments

Andrade (doodling)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

button phobia
Famous Experiments

Saavedra and Silverman (button phobia)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

pozzulo
Famous Experiments

Pozzulo et al. (line-ups)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Explore Famous Experiments

Illustration of a calm person relaxing in lotus posture, hands together

Famous Experiments

Hölzel et al. (mindfulness and brain scans)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

hassett 2008

Famous Experiments

Hassett et al. (monkey toy preferences)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

fagen et al

Famous Experiments

Fagen et al. (elephant learning)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

perry et al

Famous Experiments

Perry et al. 2015 (Personal Space)

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

asch experiment

Famous Experiments

Asch Conformity Line Experiment

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

bobo doll

Famous Experiments

Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment on Social Learning

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

cultural differences 1

Famous Experiments

Van Ijzendoorn & Kroonenberg: Cultural Variations in Attachment

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

david reimer and john money gender 1

Famous Experiments

John Money Gender Experiment: Reimer Twins

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

eeg sleep

Famous Experiments

Dement and Kleitman (1957)

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

patient hm brain

Famous Experiments

Henry Gustav Molaison: The Curious Case of Patient H.M. 

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

held hein

Famous Experiments

Held and Hein (1963) Kitten carosel

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

Western Electric Hawthorne Plant

Famous Experiments

Hawthorne Effect: Definition, How It Works, and How to Avoid It

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

harlow monkey

Famous Experiments

Harry Harlow Theory & Rhesus Monkey Experiments in Psychology

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

hofling obedience

Famous Experiments

Hofling Hospital Experiment (1966)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

privation

Famous Experiments

Hodges and Tizard (1989): Attachment Research Study

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Kitty Genovese2

Famous Experiments

What Happened to Kitty Genovese

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

konrad lorenz

Famous Experiments

Konrad Lorenz: Theory of Imprinting in Psychology

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

little albert

Famous Experiments

Little Albert Experiment (Watson & Rayner)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Little Peter 1924

Famous Experiments

Little Peter, Cover-Jones (1924)

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

little hans2

Famous Experiments

Little Hans - Freudian Case Study

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

marshmallow test

Famous Experiments

Stanford Marshmallow Test Experiment

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

strange situation

Famous Experiments

Mary Ainsworth: Strange Situation Experiment

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

loftus

Famous Experiments

Loftus and Palmer (1974): Car Crash Experiment

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

milgram study

Famous Experiments

Stanley Milgram Shock Experiment

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Pavlov

Famous Experiments

Pavlov’s Dogs Experiment

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

phineas gage1

Famous Experiments

Phineas Gage: His Accident and Impact on Psychology

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

piliavin

Famous Experiments

Piliavin (1969) Subway Samaritan Study

Reviewed by Saul McLeod, PhD

serial position effect

Famous Experiments

Serial Position Effect (Glanzer & Cunitz, 1966)

Reviewed by Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc