Scott Barry Kaufman

Scott Barry Kaufman - Psychologist, Speaker, and Best-Selling Author

Bio

“It’s time for a more dynamic conceptualization of potential that takes into account each person’s unique package of personal characteristics, dreams, passions, goals, and development. That emphasizes the journey, not the product. That shifts from a single judgement day of standardized and decontextualized testing to an extended period of deeply personal engagement, problem solving, exploration, and revision.”

Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a psychologist, coach, professor, keynote speaker, and best-selling author who is passionate about helping all kinds of minds live a creative, fulfilling, and self-actualized life. His early educational experiences made him realize the deep reservoir of untapped potential of students, including bright and creative children who have been diagnosed with a learning disability. Dr. Kaufman is among the top 1% most cited scientists in the world for his research  on intelligence and creativity.

Dr. Kaufman is a professor of psychology at Columbia University and director of the Center for Human Potential. He hosts The Psychology Podcast which has received over 30 million downloads and is widely considered among the top  psychology podcasts in the world. He is also a regular keynote speaker. If you’d like him to speak at one of your events, you can make a request here.

Dr. Kaufman’s writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Harvard Business Review, and he is the author and editor of 11 books. In his most recent book Rise Above: Overcome a Victim Mindset, Empower Yourself, and Realize Your Full Potential, his explores the limiting beliefs and widespread anxiety that puts us in boxes, lowers our expectations, and holds us back in our lives.

In addition to teaching at Columbia, Dr. Kaufman has also been a professor at the University of Pennsylvania and NYU. Dr. Kaufman received a B.S. in psychology and human computer interaction from Carnegie Mellon, an M. Phil in experimental psychology from the University of Cambridge under a Gates Cambridge Scholarship, and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Yale University (see his dissertation Beyond General Intelligence: The Dual-Process Theory of Human Intelligence). He is founder of Self-Actualization Coaching, receiving his formal coaching training from Positive Acorn. He is also an Honorary Principal Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Wellbeing Science.

Here’s a full list of Dr. Kaufmans’ books:

Some fun facts about Dr. Kaufman:

Here are some things Dr. Kaufman has done in his past life:

  • From 2014-2017, Dr. Kaufman was at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was scientific director of the Imagination Institute. In this role, he worked closely with Martin Seligman (the founder of modern-day positive psychology), where we oversaw a project to advance the measurement, growth, and improvement of imagination across all sectors of society. The Imagination Institute funded 16 research projects to advance the measurement of imagination. They also hosted gatherings of the world’s most imaginative and creative people across 12 domains of human progress (the “Imagination Retreats“).
  • At the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Kaufman taught the course “Introduction to Positive Psychology”, which was one of the most popular courses at the university.
  • He co-founded The Creativity Post with Milena Fisher and Elliot Samuel Paul.

Watch Dr. Scott and Oprah teach a course on gratitude together!

Scott Barry Kaufman’s speaking reel:

Here’s a 2019 NeuroLeadership Summit talk on self-actualization and his new hierarchy of needs:

Here’s Dr. Kaufman’s latest TEDx talk expanding our conceptualization of human intelligence and appreciating “twice exceptionality”: