History and Biographies Raymond Cattell Psychologist Biography Known for His 16-Factor Personality Model By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry Facebook Twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is the author of the "Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition)" and has written thousands of articles on diverse psychology topics. Kendra holds a Master of Science degree in education from Boise State University with a primary research interest in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Idaho State University with additional coursework in substance use and case management. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 10, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print Psychologist Raymond Cattell is best known for his 16-factor personality model, developing the concept of fluid versus crystallized intelligence, and working with factor and multivariate analysis. Early Life Raymond Cattell was born on March 20, 1905, in a small town in England. He developed an interest in science early on in life and went on to become the first person from his family to attend college, earning his BS in chemistry from the University of London when he was just 19. After witnessing the devastation of World War I, Cattell developed an interest in using science to solve human problems. He was also influenced by other thinkers of the time, including George Bernard Shaw, Aldous Huxley, and H. G. Wells. He earned his Ph.D. in psychology from the University of London in 1929. Career and Death After teaching for a few years at Exeter University, Cattell was invited to teach at Columbia University by pioneering psychologist Edward Thorndike. In 1938, he became a professor at Clark University, and in 1941, he moved to Harvard after being invited by Gordon Allport. In 1945, Cattell took a position at the University of Illinois where he established a research department. At the time, the school was developing a pioneering computer that allowed Cattell to conduct factor analysis on a much larger scale than was previously possible. In 1973, Cattell retired from the University of Illinois and eventually settled in Hawaii, where he continued to teach, write, and enjoy his life-long passion for sailing. He died on February 2, 1998. Contributions to Psychology In addition to his research in personality, motivation, and intelligence, Cattell's work with multivariate analysis left a lasting mark on psychology. While earlier research in psychology had focused on studying single variables in isolation, Cattell pioneered the use of multivariate analysis that allowed researchers to view individuals as a whole and study aspects of human behavior that could not be studied in a lab setting. Cattell is well-known for his 16 personality factors, in which he and numerous colleagues utilized factor analysis to identify 16 different fundamental components of personality. He subsequently developed the 16PF Personality Questionnaire, which is still widely used today. Cattell also influenced the work of other psychologists. In a review of eminent psychologists, Raymond Cattell's professional writings ranked as the seventh most frequently cited in psychology journals over the past 100 years. When judged for overall eminence, Cattell was ranked 16th. Selected Publications If you're interested in reading some of Cattell's works, here are a few to consider: Cattell RB. The Scientific Use of Factor Analysis in Behavioral and Life Sciences. New York: Plenum; 1978. Cattell RB. Personality and Motivation: Structure and Measurement. New York: World Book Company; 1957. Cattell RB. Personality: A Systematic Theoretical and Factual Study. New York: McGraw Hill; 1950. 1 Source Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Haggbloom SJ, Warnick R, Warnick JE, et al. The 100 most eminent psychologists of the 20th Century. Review of General Psychology. 2002;6(2):139-152. Additional Reading Human Intelligence Project. Raymond B. Cattell. Updated April 29, 2018. Cattell HEP, Horn J. A Short Biography: Raymond Bernard Cattell. Cattell Family Trust. Published 2015. Harvard Department of Psychology. Raymond Cattell. By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is the author of the "Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition)" and has written thousands of articles on diverse psychology topics. Kendra holds a Master of Science degree in education from Boise State University with a primary research interest in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Idaho State University with additional coursework in substance use and case management. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit