Boris Sidis
Boris Sidis (/ˈsaɪdɪs/; October 12, 1867 – October 24, 1923) was a Ukrainian-American psychologist, physician, psychiatrist, and philosopher of education. Sidis founded the New York State Psychopathic Institute and the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. He was the father of child prodigy William James Sidis. Boris Sidis eventually opposed mainstream psychology and Sigmund Freud, and thereby died ostracized. He was married to a maternal aunt of Clifton Fadiman, the American intellectual.
Boris Sidis | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 12, 1867 Berdychiv, Russian Empire (now Ukraine) |
| Died | October 24, 1923 (aged 56) Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S. |
| Nationality | Ukrainian, American |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, MA, PhD, MD) |
| Spouse | Sarah Mandelbaum |
| Children | 2, including William |
Born in the Russian Empire, Sidis emigrated to the U.S. to escape political persecution. According to Amy Wallace, he was imprisoned for two years. Sidis fled the pogroms with his wife and children. He proceeded to complete four degrees at Harvard University and sought to provide insight into why people behave as they do. Sidis died in 1923, age 56.