Benjamin Spock

Benjamin McLane Spock (May 2, 1903 – March 15, 1998) was an American pediatrician whose book Baby and Child Care (1946) is one of the best-sellers of all time. The book said to mothers "you know more than you think you do".^[1]

Benjamin Spock
Spock on April 21, 1976
Born	Benjamin McLane Spock (1903-05-02)May 2, 1903 New Haven, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	March 15, 1998(1998-03-15) (aged 94) La Jolla, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Alma mater	Yale University Columbia University MD
Awards	E. Mead Johnson Award (1948)
Scientific career
Fields	Pediatrics, Psychoanalysis
Institutions	Mayo Clinic 1947–1951 University of Pittsburgh 1951–1955 Case Western Reserve University 1955–1967
Signature

Benjamin Spock

Medal record
Men's rowing
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
	1924 Paris	Eight

Spock was the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis to try to understand children's needs. His ideas influenced parents to be more flexible and affectionate with their children, and to treat them as individuals. However, his theories were also widely criticized by colleagues. According to the critics, he relied too heavily on anecdotal evidence rather than serious academic research.^[2]

Spock was regarded as a radical during the troubled times of the Vietnam War.^[3]

Spock won an Olympic gold medal in rowing in 1924 while attending Yale University.