Theodore H. Blau
Encyclopedia
Theodore H. Blau was a noted clinical
, police
and forensic psychologist who was the first clinician in independent practice to be elected president of the American Psychological Association
in 1977. He was a prolific writer and wrote, among other books and articles, a well known book on Forensic psychology
.
and completed his residency at the Veterans Administration
hospital in Perry Point, Maryland
. He was an early adherent to B. F. Skinner
and Kenneth B. Clark. After moving to Tampa
, Florida
in 1955, he developed a successful private clinical practice, specializing in child psychology, cognitive psychology
, and behavior modification
. Dr. Blau became prominent over the next 30 years in academic and clinical psychology
. He later specialized in forensic psychology
but never gave up his clinical practice and wrote technical books in the field.
The Theodore H. Blau Early Career Award for Outstanding Contribution to Professional Clinical Psychology is an annual award bestowed in his honor by the American Psychological Association, Division 12, The Society of Clinical Psychology: "The Theodore H. Blau Early Career Award for Outstanding Contribution to Professional Clinical Psychology will be given by the Division of Clinical Psychology to a Clinical Psychologist who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of Clinical Psychology."
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...
, police
Police psychology
Police psychology is a specialized field of psychology addressing issues specific to police personnel and other public safety workers.-Police psychologists:...
and forensic psychologist who was the first clinician in independent practice to be elected president of 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...
in 1977. He was a prolific writer and wrote, among other books and articles, a well known book on Forensic psychology
Forensic psychology
Forensic psychology is the intersection between psychology and the criminal justice system. It involves understanding criminal law in the relevant jurisdictions in order to be able to interact appropriately with judges, attorneys and other legal professionals...
.
History
Dr. Blau earned his bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees from Pennsylvania State UniversityPennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and completed his residency at the Veterans Administration
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
hospital in Perry Point, Maryland
Perry Point, Maryland
Perry Point is an unincorporated community in Cecil County, Maryland, United States....
. He was an early adherent to B. F. Skinner
B. F. Skinner
Burrhus Frederic Skinner was an American behaviorist, author, inventor, baseball enthusiast, social philosopher and poet...
and Kenneth B. Clark. After moving to Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1955, he developed a successful private clinical practice, specializing in child psychology, cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology
Cognitive psychology is a subdiscipline of psychology exploring internal mental processes.It is the study of how people perceive, remember, think, speak, and solve problems.Cognitive psychology differs from previous psychological approaches in two key ways....
, and behavior modification
Behavior modification
Behavior modification is the use of empirically demonstrated behavior change techniques to increase or decrease the frequency of behaviors, such as altering an individual's behaviors and reactions to stimuli through positive and negative reinforcement of adaptive behavior and/or the reduction of...
. Dr. Blau became prominent over the next 30 years in academic and clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
. He later specialized in forensic psychology
Forensic psychology
Forensic psychology is the intersection between psychology and the criminal justice system. It involves understanding criminal law in the relevant jurisdictions in order to be able to interact appropriately with judges, attorneys and other legal professionals...
but never gave up his clinical practice and wrote technical books in the field.
The Theodore H. Blau Early Career Award for Outstanding Contribution to Professional Clinical Psychology is an annual award bestowed in his honor by the American Psychological Association, Division 12, The Society of Clinical Psychology: "The Theodore H. Blau Early Career Award for Outstanding Contribution to Professional Clinical Psychology will be given by the Division of Clinical Psychology to a Clinical Psychologist who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession of Clinical Psychology."
Selected works
- Blau T.H. (1950). Report on a method of predicting success in psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 6 (4), 403-406.
- Blau, T.H. (1969). The professional in the community views the nonprofessional helper:. In Grosser, Cl, Henry, W.E. & Kelly, J.E. (Eds.), Nonprofessionals in the Suman Services. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
- Blau, T.H. (1984). Foreword in Kaslow, F. (Ed.) Psychotherapy with Psychotherapists. New York: John Wiley & Sons.