The very title of this entry demands selection and judgment: Who is eminent? How does one qualify to be eminent? In what does eminence consist? Eminence can be defined as a position of superiority, distinction, or excellence. Dean Keith Simonton defines eminence as having “made a name” for oneself. Some speak of true eminence as being defined as the person having made an original contribution to the domain, rather than high achievement. Eminent people have biographies written about their lives; they are in the journals, magazines, newspapers, and other media.

Simonton noted that predicting eminence from mere prominence depends on certain criteria. Regarding individual differences, the productivity, intelligence level, personality attributes, and degree of psychopathology are somewhat distinctive in eminent people. In terms of development, the ...