John H. Flavell

Who is John H. Flavell?

John H. Flavell is an American developmental psychologist specializing in children's cognitive development. After serving in The United States Army for two years from 1945–1947, John H. Flavell enrolled at Northeastern University where he earned his bachelors' degree in psychology. After graduation he was admitted into the clinical psychology program at Clark University and Harvard University. John H. Flavell earned his MA from Clark University in 1952 and in 1955 he earned his Ph.D. Through the discovery of new developmental phenomena and analysis of the theories of Jean Piaget, Flavell shifted the direction of developmental psychology in the United States.

In 1955-1956 Flavell worked as a clinical psychologist at Fort Lyon V.A. hospital in Colorado. After leaving Fort Lyon he accepted a position at the University of Rochester New York as a clinical associate and then as an assistant professor of psychology. In 1965 Flavell was asked to become a full time professor at the University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development. Flavell left after 10 years to join Stanford University in 1976 where he became one of their professors.