Thomas G. Plante
Encyclopedia
Thomas G. Plante is professor of psychology
on the faculty of Santa Clara University
and adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University
School of Medicine. His ideas have been covered in Time Magazine and other news media with regard to sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, a focus of some of his research and clinical practice. He has also conducted research on exercise psychology, and on the health effects of spiritual and religious practice.
from Brown University
(1982), later receiving his MA (1983) and PhD (1987) in Clinical Psychology from University of Kansas
. He did a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical and health psychology at Yale University
(1987–1988).
He has been Associate Professor (1994–2002) and Professor (2002-) at Santa Clara University
in the Department of Psychology (serving as chair in 1999-2002 and 2005–07).
s website, where Plante operates a blog, he has been featured in media outlets that include Time Magazine, CNN
, NBC Nightly News
, the PBS News Hour, New York Times, USA Today
, BBC
, and National Public Radio. For example,
He has been covered in magazines for professionals. For example:
Plante's writings have also been published in mass media outlets. For example:
Plante has also published over 150 scholarly professional journal articles and book chapters.
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
on the faculty of 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...
and adjunct clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at 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...
School of Medicine. His ideas have been covered in Time Magazine and other news media with regard to sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests, a focus of some of his research and clinical practice. He has also conducted research on exercise psychology, and on the health effects of spiritual and religious practice.
Education and academic career
Plante graduated with a Sc.B. in psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
(1982), later receiving his MA (1983) and PhD (1987) in Clinical Psychology from University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He did a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical and health psychology at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(1987–1988).
He has been Associate Professor (1994–2002) and Professor (2002-) 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...
in the Department of Psychology (serving as chair in 1999-2002 and 2005–07).
Media coverage
Plante's ideas have been covered in a variety of news media. According to his profile at Psychology TodayPsychology Today
Psychology Today is a bi-monthly magazine published in the United States. It is a psychology-based magazine about relationships, health, and related topics written for a mass audience of non-psychologists. Psychology Today was founded in 1967 and features articles on such topics as love,...
s website, where Plante operates a blog, he has been featured in media outlets that include Time Magazine, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...
, the PBS News Hour, New York Times, USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, and National Public Radio. For example,
- In 2002, Time featured comments from Plante, as one of five "leading Catholics," on how the Catholic Church could overcome the sexual abuse crisis. He noted that only about 5% of priests had been involved in sexual abuse of minors, a percentage "not inconsistent with other male clergy or with the general population." He also suggested that a "militaristic hierarchy" in the church might have contributed to a comparatively large number of victims per abuser. Later the same month, Time published a letter that referred to Plante's remarks, and asked why Time didn't say more about the 95% of priests who were not abusers.
- In 2005, Time discussed Plante's role in screening applicants for seminary training to become priests.
He has been covered in magazines for professionals. For example:
- In 2002, the Monitor on Psychology, sent to all members of the 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...
, covered Plante's ideas about how psychologists might help resolve the crisis in the Roman Catholic ChurchRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He argued that psychologists "can offer the best in science and the best in practice and let data cut through the hysteria."
Plante's writings have also been published in mass media outlets. For example:
- In 2004, the San Francisco ChronicleSan Francisco Chroniclethumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
published a story by Plante commenting on the sexual abuse crisis.
Research
Plante's clinical and research interests include psychological issues among Catholic clergy and laypersons, ethical decision making, health effects related to spiritual and religious involvement, stress and coping, and the influence of aerobic exercise and perceived fitness on psychological functioning.Publications
Plante has authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited fourteen books including- Contemplative Practices in Action: Spirituality, Meditation, and Health (2010, Greenwood)
- Spiritual Practices in Psychotherapy: Thirteen Tools for Enhancing Psychological Health (2009, American Psychological Association)
- Spirit, Science and Health: How the Spiritual Mind Fuels Physical Wellness (2007, Greenwood)
- Mental Disorders of the New Millennium (Vols. I, II, and III, 2006, Greenwood)
- Sin against the Innocents: Sexual Abuse by Priests and the Role of the Catholic Church (2004, Greenwood)
- Faith and Health: Psychological Perspectives (2001, Guilford)
- Do the Right Thing: Living Ethically in an Unethical World (2004, New Harbinger)
- Contemporary Clinical Psychology (1999, 2005, 2010, Wiley)
- Bless Me Father For I Have Sinned: Perspectives on Sexual Abuse Committed by Roman Catholic Priests (1999, Greenwood)
Plante has also published over 150 scholarly professional journal articles and book chapters.