Steven Pinker

Steven Pinker, born on September 18, 1954, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, is a prominent cognitive psychologist, linguist, and popular science author known for his research on language, cognition, and human nature.

Pinker attended Dawson College in Montreal before earning his bachelor’s degree in psychology from McGill University in 1976. He then went on to earn his Ph.D. in experimental psychology from Harvard University in 1979, where he studied under the supervision of renowned psychologist Roger Brown.

Throughout his career, Pinker has held academic positions at various prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, where he was a faculty member in the Department of Psychology for over two decades. He is currently the Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard.

Pinker’s research covers a wide range of topics in psychology and linguistics, including language acquisition, psycholinguistics, cognitive science, and the psychology of morality. He is known for his influential theories on language and cognition, particularly his work on the innateness hypothesis and the language instinct.

In addition to his academic work, Pinker is also a prolific author and public intellectual. He has written several best-selling books on topics related to psychology, language, and human nature, including “The Language Instinct,” “How the Mind Works,” “The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature,” and “Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress.”

Pinker is known for his clear and engaging writing style, as well as his ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to a general audience. He is a frequent contributor to popular media outlets and has appeared on television programs, podcasts, and radio shows to discuss topics related to psychology, language, and society.

Throughout his career, Pinker has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to psychology and science communication, including the National Academy of Sciences Award for Behavioral Research Relevant to the Prevention of Nuclear War and the Henry Dale Prize from the Royal Institution of Great Britain.

Overall, Steven Pinker is widely regarded as one of the most influential and insightful thinkers in the fields of psychology and linguistics, known for his rigorous research, provocative ideas, and commitment to advancing our understanding of the human mind and behavior.