Harold Kelley, one of the most influential scholars in the field of social psychology and a UCLA professor emeritus, died of cancer Jan. 29 in his home. He was 82 years old.

Recognized internationally for his work in the field of social psychology, Kelley came to UCLA in 1961.

He made important contributions to the field with studies that concentrated on understanding patterns of interaction between people in relationships.

Kelley was instrumental in the evolution of attribution theory, a social psychological analysis that looks at how people attribute causes for behavior, said Bertram Raven, a fellow professor emeritus in social psychology.

Born in Boise, Idaho, Kelley moved to Delano, Calif. at the age of 10. He studied at UC Berkeley, earning his M.A. in psychology in 1943.

Kelley worked in the Aviation Psychology Program of the U.S. Army Air Force, and received a Ph.D. from the Group Psychology Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1948.

He taught at Yale and the University of Minnesota for a decade beginning in 1950, then moved to UCLA, where he stayed for the remainder of his career.

Colleagues described Kelley, who was honored as a member of both the American Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Sciences, as both a compassionate man and a pioneer in social psychological theory.

“He had a sort of caliber of mind that was truly unique, a brilliant theorist,” said Letitia Peplau, a colleague in UCLA’s social psychology department.

A study published in the General Review of Psychology named Kelley as one of the top 100 most eminent psychologists of the 20th century.

Raven said Kelley was highly respected on a national and international level for his work as well as for the way in which he dealt with people throughout his life.

“He was a wonderful person,” Raven said. “He was brilliant and innovative in his professional scientific work ... and very caring and ready to assist other people.”

Kelley loved all kinds of music, notably classical music, Raven said.

He also liked to travel, and when attending international conferences, Kelley enjoyed being in the middle of different cultures in foreign countries.

While living in Delano, Kelley met his high school sweetheart, Dorothy.

The two were married in 1942, Dorothy said, and enjoyed 61 years together.

“He was my husband, so I think he’s wonderful,” Dorothy said.

Kelley is survived by three children – Stan, Ann and Megan – and five grandchildren.