Carl E. Thoresen
Encyclopedia
Carl E. Thoresen is a psychologist
on the faculty of Stanford University
. Since 2005, he has also been a Senior Fellow at Santa Clara University
.
Thoresen graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley
with a bachelor's degree in history
(1955), later receiving his MA (Counseling, 1960) and PhD (Psychological Studies, Counseling Psychology, 1964) from Stanford University
.
After a brief period as an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Michigan State (1965–1967), he returned to Stanford as Assistant Professor of Education (1967). From 1975 until 2000 he served as Professor of Education, and by Courtesy, Psychology, and Psychiatry. Since 2000, he has held the same title with emeritus status. Since 2005, he has also been a Senior Fellow at the Spirituality and Health Institute at Santa Clara University
.
According to his CP profile, he was also:
Thoresen has been awarded honorary doctorates by Uppsala University
, Sweden
(Psychology, 1986), and by the National University of Ireland
(Literature, 2004).
He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
in 1973.
He is an elected Fellow of several major organisations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science
(1982-), the American Psychological Association
(1972-) and the Society of Behavioural Medicine (1986-). His professional publications number more than 200.
Beginning in 1973, Thoresen collaborated with well-known cardiologist Meyer Friedman
. They worked together on the Recurrent Coronary Prevention Project, which followed 1013 heart attack
survivors for 4.5 years to determine effects from altering their coronary-prone (type A
) behavior patterns. Thoresen was responsible "to help design and direct the psychological treatment program based on a behavioral self-control perspective" (p. 282). Results indicated that behavioral counseling reduced rates of recurrence to 13% (from 21% or higher). After the first year, those receiving behavioral counseling also experienced significantly lower rates of death. The study showed, "for the first time, within a controlled experimental design, that altering type A
behavior reduces cardiac morbidity and mortality in post infarction patients" (p. 653).
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
on the faculty of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. Since 2005, he has also been a Senior Fellow at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
.
Education and academic career
Many events and achievements in Thoresen's career as a psychologist were described in a profile published in 2009 in the Counseling Psychologist (CP), as part of its "Legacies and Traditions" series.Thoresen graduated with a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
with a bachelor's degree in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
(1955), later receiving his MA (Counseling, 1960) and PhD (Psychological Studies, Counseling Psychology, 1964) from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
After a brief period as an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Michigan State (1965–1967), he returned to Stanford as Assistant Professor of Education (1967). From 1975 until 2000 he served as Professor of Education, and by Courtesy, Psychology, and Psychiatry. Since 2000, he has held the same title with emeritus status. Since 2005, he has also been a Senior Fellow at the Spirituality and Health Institute at Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
.
According to his CP profile, he was also:
- President, Counseling & Human Development, American Educational Research AssociationAmerican Educational Research AssociationThe American Educational Research Association, or AERA, was founded in 1916 as a professional organization representing educational researchers in the United States and around the world....
(1974–1976). - President of the Division of Counseling Psychology, American Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological AssociationThe American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
(1978–1979). - Founder and Elected Chair, American Psychological AssociationAmerican Psychological AssociationThe American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, Counseling Health Psychology Section, Division 17 (1997–1999). - Founder and Chair, Society of Behavioral Medicine, Spirituality and Health Special Interest Group (2000-).
Thoresen has been awarded honorary doctorates by Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
(Psychology, 1986), and by the National University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
(Literature, 2004).
He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowship
Guggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
in 1973.
He is an elected Fellow of several major organisations, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
(1982-), the American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
(1972-) and the Society of Behavioural Medicine (1986-). His professional publications number more than 200.
Research and influence
According to the CP interview, Thoresen's "scholarly work, professional service, teaching, and mentorship have motivated many counseling psychologists to radically expand their areas of inquiry. He was among the first to focus counseling on observable behaviors and to apply psychological science and interventions to physical problems in medical settings. More recently, he has pioneered the study of the interface between spirituality and health" (p. 275).Beginning in 1973, Thoresen collaborated with well-known cardiologist Meyer Friedman
Meyer Friedman
Meyer Friedman was an American cardiologist who developed, with colleague R.H. Rosenman, the theory that the "Type A" behavior of chronically angry and impatient people raises their risk of heart attacks...
. They worked together on the Recurrent Coronary Prevention Project, which followed 1013 heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
survivors for 4.5 years to determine effects from altering their coronary-prone (type A
Type A personality
Originally published in the 1950s, the Type A and Type B personality theory is a theory which describes two common, contrasting personality types—the high-strung Type A and the easy-going Type B—as patterns of behavior that could either raise or lower, respectively, one's chances of developing...
) behavior patterns. Thoresen was responsible "to help design and direct the psychological treatment program based on a behavioral self-control perspective" (p. 282). Results indicated that behavioral counseling reduced rates of recurrence to 13% (from 21% or higher). After the first year, those receiving behavioral counseling also experienced significantly lower rates of death. The study showed, "for the first time, within a controlled experimental design, that altering type A
Type A personality
Originally published in the 1950s, the Type A and Type B personality theory is a theory which describes two common, contrasting personality types—the high-strung Type A and the easy-going Type B—as patterns of behavior that could either raise or lower, respectively, one's chances of developing...
behavior reduces cardiac morbidity and mortality in post infarction patients" (p. 653).