“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.”
Scott Barry Kaufman is among the top 1% most cited scientists in the world for his groundbreaking research on intelligence, creativity, and human potential. He is founder and director of the Center for Human Potential and founder of Self-Actualization Coaching. Dr. Kaufman is interested in using his research, podcast, teaching, and coaching to help 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 hosts the The Psychology Podcast which has received over 30 million downloads and is frequently ranked the #1 psychology podcast 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. In 2015, he was named one of “50 groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world” by Business Insider.
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 10 books. In his book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, he presents a new hierarchy of human needs for the 21st century, one that allows for the fulfillment of individual potential as well as the actualization of transcendent purpose and peak experiences.
Dr. Kaufman has taught at Columbia University, Yale, NYU, the University of Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. 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. He received his 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:
- Choose Growth: A Workbook for Transcending Trauma, Fear, and Self-Doubt (with Jordyn Feingold)
- Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization
- Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind (with Carolyn Gregoire)
- Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined
- Twice Exceptional: Supporting and Educating Bright and Creative Students with Learning Difficulties (Editor)
- The Complexity of Greatness: Beyond Talent or Practice (Editor)
- The Cambridge Handbook of Intelligence (Co-Editor)
- The Philosophy of Creativity: New Essays (Co-Editor)
- The Psychology of Creative Writing (Co-editor)
- Mating Intelligence Unleashed: The Role of the Mind in Sex, Dating, and Love (with Glenn Geher)
Here are some things Dr. Kaufman has done in his past life:
- Director of research at the 2e Center, Bridges Academy and host of the free monthly webcast “Critical Conversations on Cognitive Diversity.
- 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.
- Dr. Kaufman is on the advisory board of The Future Project, a non-profit dedicated to working with schools to unlock the limitless potential of every young person in this country.
- Co-founded The Creativity Post with Milena Fisher and Elliot Samuel Paul.
- Dr. Kaufman is a classically trained in vocal performance and he loves singing musical theatre (my musical theatre inspiration is Terrence Mann). He also plays the cello (he was taught by my grandfather Harry Gorodetzer, a former member of the Philadelphia Orchestra), and he likes to dance on TikTok (@sbkaufman).
- In 2005 and 2007, Dr. Kaufman was rejected from American Idol. So he did what he does best: he analyzed how to win American Idol!
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”: