Carroll Ellis Izard, PhD was an American research psychologist known for his contributions to differential emotions theory, and the Maximally Discriminative Affect Coding System. Izard also undertook empirical studies into the facial feedback hypothesis according to which emotions which have different functions also cause facial expressions which in turn provide us with cues about what emotion a person is feeling. In addition, Izard constructed a multidimensional self-report measure – the Differential Emotions Scale – currently in its 4th edition His later research focused on emotional development in young children and the development and testing of his Emotions Course for Young Children.
Academic career
Izard earned his PhD from Syracuse University in 1952 and served initially as a psychology professor at Vanderbilt University, where he carried out pioneering research into human emotions. In 1976, he joined the Department of Psychology at the University of Delaware where he remained active as Unidel Professor of Psychology in the McKinly Lab until his retirement in 2014. A festschrift was held at the University of Delaware on 22 October 2012 to celebrate Izard's lifelong contributions to the understanding of human emotional development.
Works
Izard is noted for contributions to the developmental research on emotion. In 1971, Izard - along with colleagues - conducted groundbreaking research on this subject, which challenged the then established theory that emotions were undifferentiated and also validated universally recognizable expressions. He also defined personality as an interrelated system and that emotion is one of the core components that also include homoeostatic, motor, perceptual, and cognitive systems. As many experts maintain that emotions unfold gradually alongside the development of the nervous system, Izard maintained that even infants who are 10 weeks old are capable of several basic emotions.
Books
Face of Emotion.. Irvington Publishers.
The Psychology of Emotions.. New York: Plenum.
Human Emotions.. New York: Plenum.
Patterns of Emotions: A New Analysis of Anxiety and Depression.. New York: Academic.
The Face of Emotion.. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
Depression in Young People: Developmental and Clinical Perspectives.. Guilford.
