Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
Social Sciences / Psychology Highly Cited Researchers Citation Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed 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
Chronic pain
experimental health psychology
fear conditioning
pain-related fear
cognitive
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
73,501
31,583
0.430
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Job Insecurity
temporary work
work stress
work engagement
bullying at work
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
49,780
27,325
0.549
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,386
18,591
0.705
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,785
6,884
0.316
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
visual perception
visual arts
visual cognition
psychophysics
cognitive science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,478
10,801
0.503
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Work & Organizational Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,660
11,469
0.583
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
dyscalculia
mathematical development
educational neuroscience
arithmetic
numerical cognition
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,447
7,612
0.566
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Social Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,290
5,987
0.530
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
psychophysiology
stress & health
symptom perception
interoceptive conditioning
tVNS
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10,554
6,813
0.646
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Psychology
Perception
Complex Systems
Philosophy of Neuroscience
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
9,913
3,997
0.403
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Learning and memory
experimental psychopathology
animal cognition
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,825
4,164
0.472
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Physical Activity Promotion
Group Processes
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,598
4,997
0.581
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
eetstoornissen
trauma
dissociatie
hypnose
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,270
2,455
0.297
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
categories & concept
scaling
semantics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,253
3,320
0.458
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Attachment
Developmental Psychopathology
Cognitive Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,618
3,910
0.591
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
theory testing
cognitive modeling
meta-science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,122
4,735
0.773
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Executive functioning
Cognitive flexibility
Self-control
Environmental Psychology
Event-related potentials
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,357
4,431
0.827
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
education
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,926
2,770
0.562
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Reasoning
Pragmatics
Memory
Experimental Pragmatics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,692
1,319
0.281
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Loneliness
(Peer) Relationships
Social Connection
Meta-analysis
Developmental psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,746
3,366
0.899
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
neuropsychology
cognitive neurosciences
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,657
2,538
0.694
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
social cognition
language and human information processing
epistemology
evolutionary psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,573
853
0.239
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
social psychology
risk perception
verbal communication
health
16th-cent. history of medicine
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,440
1,150
0.334
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Cross-cultural psychology
Culture and self-development
Acculturation
Creativity
Wellbeing
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,328
1,582
0.475
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
pain
pain modulation
EEG
fMRI
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,903
1,548
0.533
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
5,380
38
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
Johan Ws Vlaeyen
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
73,501
31,583
0.430
Chronic pain
experimental health psychology
fear conditioning
pain-related fear
cognitive
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
10,088
73
20
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Hans De Witte
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
49,780
27,325
0.549
Job Insecurity
temporary work
work stress
work engagement
bullying at work
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
27,231
241
76
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
Peter Kuppens
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
26,386
18,591
0.705
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
35,950
326
107
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Ralf Krampe
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,785
6,884
0.316
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
36,690
339
108
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Johan Wagemans
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
21,478
10,801
0.503
visual perception
visual arts
visual cognition
psychophysics
cognitive science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
41,533
391
124
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Nele De Cuyper
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
19,660
11,469
0.583
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
68,894
650
207
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Bert De Smedt
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
13,447
7,612
0.566
dyscalculia
mathematical development
educational neuroscience
arithmetic
numerical cognition
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
85,451
823
241
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
Colette Van Laar
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
11,290
5,987
0.530
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
92,609
881
256
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Ilse Van Diest
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
10,554
6,813
0.646
psychophysiology
stress & health
symptom perception
interoceptive conditioning
tVNS
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
99,487
952
273
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Cees Van Leeuwen
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
9,913
3,997
0.403
Psychology
Perception
Complex Systems
Philosophy of Neuroscience
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
113,552
1,086
300
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Tom Beckers
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,825
4,164
0.472
Learning and memory
experimental psychopathology
animal cognition
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
116,926
1,126
309
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Filip Boen
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,598
4,997
0.581
Physical Activity Promotion
Group Processes
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
122,164
1,155
316
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Johan Vanderlinden
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
8,270
2,455
0.297
eetstoornissen
trauma
dissociatie
hypnose
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
140,926
1,333
371
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Gert Storms
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
7,253
3,320
0.458
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
155,127
1,448
395
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
Guy Bosmans
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,618
3,910
0.591
Attachment
Developmental Psychopathology
Cognitive Psychology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
168,018
1,553
421
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
Wolf Vanpaemel
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
6,122
4,735
0.773
theory testing
cognitive modeling
meta-science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
191,544
1,733
459
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Florian Lange
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
5,357
4,431
0.827
Executive functioning
Cognitive flexibility
Self-control
Environmental Psychology
Event-related potentials
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
207,921
1,875
494
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Bieke Defraine
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,926
2,770
0.562
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
217,761
1,951
509
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Walter Schaeken
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
4,692
1,319
0.281
Reasoning
Pragmatics
Memory
Experimental Pragmatics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
267,335
2,352
602
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Marlies Maes
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,746
3,366
0.899
Loneliness
(Peer) Relationships
Social Connection
Meta-analysis
Developmental psychology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
272,949
2,390
608
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Celine R Gillebert
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,657
2,538
0.694
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
278,503
2,440
621
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Guido Peeters
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,573
853
0.239
social cognition
language and human information processing
epistemology
evolutionary psychology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
287,739
2,506
639
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Vera Hoorens
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,440
1,150
0.334
social psychology
risk perception
verbal communication
health
16th-cent. history of medicine
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
296,077
2,575
661
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
Derya Güngör
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
3,328
1,582
0.475
Cross-cultural psychology
Culture and self-development
Acculturation
Creativity
Wellbeing
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
331,520
2,821
716
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Diana M Torta
Catholic University of Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
2,903
1,548
0.533