Aaron T. Beck

Aaron Temkin Beck (July 18, 1921 – November 1, 2021) was an American psychiatrist and a professor emeritus in the department of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.2004 - Aaron Beck , The Grawemeyer Awards, Louisville, KY: University of Louisville/Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 2009, Retrieved 21 February 2014.Aaron Beck bio, The Heinz Awards Undated, Retrieved 21 February 2014.  He was thought to be as the father of cognitive therapy, and his theories are widely used in the treatment of clinical depression.

Early life
Beck was born in Providence, Rhode Island to a family of Russian Jewish immigrants. He studied at Brown University and at Yale Medical School.

Career
Beck also developed self-report measures of depression and anxiety including Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Hopelessness Scale,Beck A.T. (1988). Beck Hopelessness Scale. San Antonio, TX: The Psychological Corporation. Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Youth Inventories."Beck Scales for Adults and Children"  Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research. Retrieved 11 January 2007. Beck is known for his research in psychotherapy, psychopathology, suicide, and psychometrics, which led to his creation of cognitive therapy and the BDI, one of the most widely used instruments for measuring depression severity.

Beck worked with psychologist Maria Kovacs in the creation of the Children's Depression Inventory, which used the BDI as a model.Kovacs, M. (1992).  Children's Depression Inventory.  North Tonawanda, NY: Multi-Health Systems, Inc.Kovacs, M., & Beck, A.T. (1977).  "An empirical-clinical approach toward a definition of childhood depression."  In Schulterbrandt, J.G., & Raskin, A. (Eds.).  Depression in children: Diagnosis, treatment, and concept models.  New York, NY: Raven.  Beck's work at the University of Pennsylvania inspired Martin Seligman to create his own cognitive techniques and exercises, and later work on learned helplessness.Hirtz, R. (1999). Martin Seligman's journey: From learned helplessness to learned happiness , The Pennsylvania Gazette, Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania, January/February 1999, Retrieved 21 February 2014.

Beck is the President Emeritus of the non-profit Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior TherapyAbout Beck Institute: Leadership , Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Bala Cynwyd, PA: Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, 2014, Retrieved 21 February 2014. and the Honorary President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy,Academy of Cognitive Therapy , Academy of Cognitive Therapy, Philadelphia, PA: Academy of Cognitive Therapy, 2014, Retrieved 21 February 2014. which certifies qualified cognitive therapists.

Personal life
Beck married judge Phyllis W. Beck in 1950. Together, they had four children. He lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Beck turned 100 on July 18, 2021 and died later in the year on November 1 at his home in Philadelphia.In Memory of Aaron Temkin Beck, MD

More reading
Beck, A.T., & Haigh, E. A.-P. (2014).  Advances in Cognitive Theory and Therapy: The Generic Cognitive Model. Palo Alto, CA: Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. DOI 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032813-153734
Beck, A.T. (1967).  The diagnosis and management of depression. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. 
Beck, A.T. (1972).  Depression: Causes and treatment. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. 
Beck, A.T. (1975).  Cognitive therapy and the emotional disorders. Madison, CT: International Universities Press, Inc. 
Beck, A.T., Rush, A.J., Shaw, B.F., & Emery, G. (1979).  Cognitive therapy of depression. New York, NY: Guilford Press. 

References

Other websites
Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy and Research 
Cognitive Therapy Today (Beck Institute's Blog)
Academy of Cognitive Therapy 
Centro de Psicología Aaron Beck España
 The International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health
 Charlie Rose interview of Aaron T. Beck and others (video) 
 Aaron T. Beck interviewed by daughter Judith Beck (video)

Category:1921 births
Category:2021 deaths
Category:American centenarians
Category:American psychiatrists
Category:Scientists from Philadelphia
Category:Scientists from Rhode Island
Category:Academics from Pennsylvania
Category:Writers from Providence, Rhode Island
Category:Writers from Philadelphia
Category:Educators from Philadelphia