Robert K. Merton
Sociologist
Columbia University sociologist who created the concepts of unintended consequences and the self-fulfilling prophecy. He spent most of his career researching and developing theories on social roles and coined the term "status set" to describe the collection of social statuses an individual might hold.
One of his works was on the sociology of science, which focused on Purtian society and their relationship to science.
Looking into the social structure of the U.S., he found that when group don't have the opportunity to achieve the 'American dream,' the result can be criminal behavior.
He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a working class immigrant family from Easter Europe.
Alfred Adler was another prominent social scientist, researching the inferiority complex.