Biography of Ivan Petrovich Pavlov

Physiologist is just one of the many titles earned by Ivan Pavlov. His unique background influenced his career greatly. Throughout his life he had many remarkable accomplishments. From dog treats to nerves of the heart, his experiments produced many useful conclusions. Also, his awards and leading positions emphasize his contributions to the many fields of science. Although he focused mostly in physiology, his studies have affected many realms of science, including psychology, and still prove accurate today. On September 14, 1849, Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was born into a religious family in Ryazan, Russia. Having a priest as a father and a daughter of a priest as a mother affected Pavlov greatly. Ivan was the oldest and healthiest of his 10 siblings. According to Mindy Lautenheiser, Pavlov’s large family always had an issue with poverty. She also said, “Pavlov inherited many of his father’s characteristics including a strong will to succeed,” (Lautenheiser). Pavlov’s grandfather also had great affects on Pavlov and his research. According to Ed Peterson, Pavlov had a serious fall at age 10, so he was put in his grandfather’s care. Peterson also said, “His grandfather encouraged him to read and write down comments and remarks he made on his readings. This technique led him to a lifelong dedication to the technique of systematic observation,” (Peterson). That technique was one of the crucial factors in determining his success in his work. In his early years, Pavlov was educated at a church school. When he enrolled college in 1870, he was going to take theological classes, but scientists such as Charles Darwin and I.M. Sechenov inspired him to go forward with his true passion: natural sciences. His high involvement with the sciences a...

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... sparked his criticism of Communism. However, he escaped prosecution due to the fact that that he was one of Russia’s most prominent scientists. Also, from the www.biography.com article, it says that in Pavlov’s later life he “applied his laws to the study of psychosis.” He proposed that negative memories could cause people to withdraw from daily interactions (Ivan).

Works Cited

"Ivan Petrovich Pavlov Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 19 Jan.

2014. .

Lautenheiser, Mindy. "Ivan Pavlov." Psychology History. Muskingum University, May 1999.

Web. 14 Jan. 2014. .

Peterson, Ed. "Ivan Pavlov." Ivan Pavlov. Dr. Megan E. Bradley, n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.

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