Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
Social Sciences / Psychology Highly Cited Researchers 36.586 Scientists Citation Rankings - 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) list highlights the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 211 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively and with real-time updates by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced and dynamic perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers — particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This real-time methodology addresses the unfair advantage researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others, ensuring a more equitable evaluation. Furthermore, real-time citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community by continuously monitoring citation behavior.
For more detailed and up-to-date citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
psychology
social psychology
clinical psychology
education
positive psycholog
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
658,715
279,446
0.424
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* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
590,866
166,873
0.282
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
self-determination theory
motivation
psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
553,106
225,006
0.407
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Psychology
Social psychology
Personality psychology
Positive Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
379,355
133,591
0.352
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Qualitative research
thematic analysis
sexuality
gender
famil
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
372,447
283,645
0.762
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Positive Psychology
Learned Helplessness
Prospection
Depression
Optimism
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
325,353
92,667
0.285
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
social psychology
personalit
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
309,712
102,207
0.330
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Occupational Health Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
307,999
135,662
0.440
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Psychology
Health Neuroscience
Stress and Resilienc
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
294,994
145,714
0.494
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* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
psycholog
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
259,156
56,561
0.218
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Emotion
Emotion Regulation
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
247,743
112,251
0.453
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
mind
brain
social interaction
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
246,774
45,518
0.184
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
developmental psychopathology
intelligence
crime
aging
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
239,443
72,355
0.302
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Memory
Working memory
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
238,034
47,160
0.198
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
developmental psychology
ecological systems theory
child development
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
231,034
72,421
0.313
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
child injury prevention
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
228,366
134,446
0.589
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Psychiatrie
Psychologie
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
227,661
68,988
0.303
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
developmental psychology
evolutionary anthropology
cognitive science
evolutionary psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
221,296
64,941
0.293
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Personality five- factor model. NEO-PI-R
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
219,619
51,664
0.235
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Psychology
Educatio
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
218,068
59,774
0.274
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Neuropsychology
neurorehabilitation
stroke
traumatic brain injur
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
216,090
138,539
0.641
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Twins
twinning
behavior genetics
quantitative genetics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
212,833
95,197
0.447
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
psychology
social psychology
psychoneuroimmunology
health psychology
social suppor
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
211,668
69,159
0.327
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
quantitative research method
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
206,832
50,233
0.243
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
attention
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
196,049
36,322
0.185
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
6
1
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Richard M Ryan
Australian Catholic University
North Sydney, Australia
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
658,715
279,446
0.424
psychology
social psychology
clinical psychology
education
positive psycholog
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
14
8
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Daniel Kahneman
Princeton University
Princeton, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
590,866
166,873
0.282
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
17
10
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Edward L Deci
University of Rochester
Rochester, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
553,106
225,006
0.407
self-determination theory
motivation
psychology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
94
48
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Ed Diener
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
379,355
133,591
0.352
Psychology
Social psychology
Personality psychology
Positive Psychology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
104
8
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Victoria Clarke
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
372,447
283,645
0.762
Qualitative research
thematic analysis
sexuality
gender
famil
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
167
78
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Martin Seligman
Nemours Children's Health System
Wilmington, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
325,353
92,667
0.285
Positive Psychology
Learned Helplessness
Prospection
Depression
Optimism
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
196
6
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Roy F Baumeister
University of Queensland
St Lucia, Australia
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
309,712
102,207
0.330
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
199
3
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Wilmar Schaufeli
Utrecht University
Utrecht, Netherlands
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
307,999
135,662
0.440
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
243
106
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
David Creswell
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
294,994
145,714
0.494
Psychology
Health Neuroscience
Stress and Resilienc
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
410
174
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Robert Sternberg
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
259,156
56,561
0.218
Is Your University Ready for the Future?
Compare your institution’s global, national, and city-level ranking with its 20 closest competitors and set strategic goals.
Gain insights from detailed performance analyses of scientists across 13 major disciplines, identify your strengths, improve weaknesses, and gain a competitive edge.. Check Your Free Sample Performance Analysis
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
490
200
15
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
James J Gross
Stanford University
Stanford, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
247,743
112,251
0.453
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
500
43
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Chris Frith
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
246,774
45,518
0.184
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
544
219
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Terrie E Moffitt
Duke University
Durham, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
239,443
72,355
0.302
developmental psychopathology
intelligence
crime
aging
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
555
46
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Alan Baddeley
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
238,034
47,160
0.198
Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Memory
Working memory
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
602
237
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Urie Bronfenbrenner
Cornell University
Ithaca, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
231,034
72,421
0.313
developmental psychology
ecological systems theory
child development
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
623
248
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
David Schwebel
University of Alabama Birmingham
Birmingham, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
228,366
134,446
0.589
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
628
18
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Hans Ulrich Wittchen
Technische Universität Dresden
Dresden, Germany
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
227,661
68,988
0.303
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
667
263
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Michael Tomasello
Duke University
Durham, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
221,296
64,941
0.293
developmental psychology
evolutionary anthropology
cognitive science
evolutionary psychology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
680
270
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Paul Costa
Duke University
Durham, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
219,619
51,664
0.235
Personality five- factor model. NEO-PI-R
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
696
278
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Claremont Graduate University
Claremont, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
218,068
59,774
0.274
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
708
5
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Suzanne Barker Collo
University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
216,090
138,539
0.641
Neuropsychology
neurorehabilitation
stroke
traumatic brain injur
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
736
10
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Dorret I Boomsma
VU University of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
212,833
95,197
0.447
Twins
twinning
behavior genetics
quantitative genetics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
744
292
3
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Sheldon Cohen
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
211,668
69,159
0.327
psychology
social psychology
psychoneuroimmunology
health psychology
social suppor
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
793
313
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Stephen West
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
206,832
50,233
0.243
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
886
358
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Michael I Posner
University of Oregon
Eugene, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
196,049
36,322
0.185