AARON BECK

By Fu Hong Master Ph.D and Kelton Jempson Ph.D

WHO!?
Was born July 18th 1921 in Providence, Rhode Island
His parents were immigrants from Russia Famous psychologist who pioneered in CBT( Cognitive

Behavior Therapy). He went to Brown University and Yale University, established as a psychiatrist.

WHO?! Cont.
He has received over fifty awards from various

organizations and schools

Ex: Presidential Award for Distinguished Lifetime Contributions

to the Public Understanding of Psychology 2008 American Psychological Association Division of Media Psychology Award for Outstanding and Innovative Research into the Detection and Treatment of Suicidal Individuals 2000 American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Greater Philadelphia Chapter

His theory of cognitive therapy came from his frustration

after a life threatening illness from an infection as a child He taught himself to work through his issues cognitively, sparking his theories later on

Theories
Aaron Beck is the father of Cognitive psychology and

over his life and career has refined cognitive psychology. His research in cognitive psychology fundamentally changed the way psychopathology was viewed and its treatment was conducted. Some Measures he created:
Beck Depression Inventory

Beck Anxiety Inventory

Beck Hopelessness Scale Beck Youth Inventory Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation

Theories Cont.
Beck invented Cognitive Therapy when testing psychoanalytical concepts of depression When the results he got were different then expected, he searched for different ways of conceptualizing depressions

He then noticed that his patients had negative thoughts falling into 3 different categories: Themselves, the world and the future

Theories Cont.
Beck started his treatment by engaging in conversation

with the clients about their negative thoughts He noticed that his patients started thinking more realistically after discussing their negative thoughts, leading to better emotions

Measures
Beck Depression Inventory
Test used for measuring depression severity 21 question self reported questionnaire

Beck Anxiety Inventory

21 question self reported questionnaire Designed to reduced overlap with depression

symptoms

Beck Hopelessness Scale

20 True or false question self reported questionnaire

Measures 3 aspects of hopelessness: feelings about

the future, loss motivation, and expectations

How was Psychology Changed?

Creation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and its use to treat many mental illnesses
Numerous highly validated measures

currently in use today

Bibliography

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n_GRtwChAgc/TdGTvgxyfAI/AAAAAAAAAKM/Pz9jBntGNpo/s1600/aaron%20beck.jpg
http://www.psychologistanywhereanytime.com/famous_psychologist_and_psychologists/psychologist_famous_a aron_beck.htm http://www.med.upenn.edu/suicide/beck/index.html http://www.beckinstitute.org/what-is-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/ http://hcr3.webofknowledge.com/author.cgi?id=1645&cb=3391

http://www.cognitivetherapynyc.com/CMFiles/Images/IMG_1508.jpg
http://www.heinzawards.net/pub/recipients/photos/aaron-beck.jpg http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ljgqu32tFx1qdz4lko1_400.jpg