G. Terence Wilson Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology Citation “For his outstanding contributions to the nature and theory of behavior therapy. G. Terence Wilson’s work on the mechanisms underlying fear reduction paved the way for the dominance of exposure-based approaches to anxiety disorders; his work on the expectations underlying response to alcohol pointed to the role of cognition in the etiology and maintenance of addiction; and his work on the basic mechanisms underlying the nature and treatment of obesity and the eating disorders led to a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy for Eating Disorders. No one has done more to elucidate the mechanisms of change under­ lying behavioral and cognitive interventions.”

Biography G. Terence (Terry) Wilson was bom May 24, 1944, in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he attended Saxonwold Primary School and then Parktown Boys’ High School. As he discovered later in life, none other than Joseph Wolpe, perhaps the major founding figure in the development of behavior therapy, was a fellow “Old Parktonian.” The same distinction applies to David Abrams, one of Wilson’s most eminent former graduate students. “Surgite!” as the Latin motto of the school exhorts (“Arise!”). Wilson then received BA, BA Hons., and MA degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University)

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in Johannesburg, South Africa. Having entered university intent on studying law, Wilson discovered psychology in his second year as an undergraduate student. Alma Hannon was the lecturer—the course was learning theory. Her in­ telligence was as inspiring as it was intimidating. He switched his major to psychology and developed a life­ changing relationship with Alma Hannon as friend and mentor. She was a former student of J. G. Taylor, the man who was largely responsible for educating Joe Wolpe about learning theory and behaviorism. She also introduced Wil­ son to the growing accomplishments of Jack Rachman and Arnold Lazarus, both of whom had majored in psychology at Wits University before emigrating to London and the United States, respectively, where they became leading international figures in the field of behavior therapy. In 1967 Wilson was admitted to the graduate psychology program at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Stony Brook was a new university offering a clinical doctoral program with a focus on behavior therapy. Thanks to Lazarus, Wilson was fortunate to have Jerry Davison as his advisor/mentor at Stony Brook. Davison, a doctoral student of Albert Bandura, had been influenced by Lazarus as a graduate student at Stanford University when Lazarus had spent a year there as a visiting professor in 1963-1964. It was primarily Davison’s impact that shaped Wilson’s commitment to the scientist-practitioner model of clinical psychology. Years later, on the occasion of receiving the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Association of Behav­ ioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT, formerly the Asso­ ciation for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, or AABT), Wilson observed that if he had been a good mentor it was because he had been lucky enough to have had the best possible model from whom to learn. His four years at Stony Brook determined Wilson’s future. Not only did it prepare him for an academic career in clinical psychology, but it is where he met his future wife Elaine and developed a lifelong friendship with Ray Rosen from Wits University, who joined him as a graduate student at Stony Brook in 1968. In 1971 Wilson accepted a position as assistant professor at Rutgers University. He was recruited by Peter Nathan, the director of clinical training, who was bent on develop­ ing an evidence-based doctoral training program similar to the one at Stony Brook. Rutgers proved to be an ideal environment for Wilson’s professional development. Wil­ son and Nathan collaborated for many years on research on the behavioral analysis of alcohol use and abuse funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Wilson also formed a long-standing collaboration with Cyril Franks, a former student of Hans Eysenck of the Institute of Psychiatry in London and a pioneer of behavior therapy who was one of the founders of AABT in the United States. Among many joint activities, their most significant contribution was in co-editing the internationally

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influential Annual Review o f Behavior Therapy from 1973 to 1990. Arnold Lazarus accepted a position at Rutgers in 1972. His influence on Wilson’s clinical thinking was decisive. Other colleagues and friends among the Rutgers faculty who were of great help and support to Wilson over the years were Sandra Harris and Barbara McCrady. In 1985 Wilson re­ ceived an endowed chair—the Oscar K. Buros Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University. He went on to serve as both director of clinical training and chair of the Psychology Department as well as continuing to be a core faculty member of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychol­ ogyIn 1976 Wilson accepted an invitation to be a fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in Stanford, California, where he was part of a group that included Stewart Agras, Nathan Azrin, Jack Rachman, Wal­ ter Mischel, and Alan Kazdin. The year was memorable in more ways than one. One historical nicety was that Wilson was assigned the same study carrel (#3) occupied by Wolpe when in 1956-1957 he wrote Psychotherapy by Reciprocal Inhibition—arguably the key early text on clinical behavior therapy. Another rewarding aspect for Wilson was co-author­ ing a book with Alan Kazdin (Evaluation o f Behavior Ther­ apy). Kazdin and Wilson were the “youngsters” among this group of senior and renowned authorities. Kazdin has claimed that his role in the group was to serve lunch (Amer­ ican Psychologist, 2011, Vol. 66, p. 683). If so, it was perhaps left to Wilson to do the washing up. The year also marked the beginning of a friendship and collaboration on publications and multisite grant-funded research projects be­ tween Wilson and Stewart Agras that continue to this day. Wilson was once again a fellow at the Center in 1990-1991 with Agras and Chris Fairbum from Oxford University. Fairbum has had a profound and continuing influence on Wil­ son’s career. It is noteworthy that these two most important colleagues (Agras and Fairbum) are psychiatrists—and Eng­ lish at that. Wilson is also deeply indebted to Albert Bandura (his “academic grandfather,” as the mentor of Jerry Davison). Bandura’s theory inspired Wilson’s work, and his unfailing support also opened up important professional career oppor­ tunities. His typically expert knowledge about wine and top Bay Area restaurants also led to other rewarding activities. Throughout his career, Wilson has focused on the appli­ cation of Bandura’s social learning/social cognitive theory to the analysis and treatment of clinical problems. A particular research interest has been clinical research on the develop­ ment and evaluation of cognitive behavioral therapy and analysis of psychological mechanisms of change. The treat­ ment of eating and weight disorders has been a major focus of his research. Wilson is grateful to colleagues such as Tim Walsh, Ruth Striegel Weissman, and Denise Wilfley for collaboration in this work. Finally, Wilson thanks his wife Elaine, herself a clinical psychologist, for her lifelong support and encouragement.

November 2014 • American Psychologist

One of Wilson’s primary interests—and a great source of positive reinforcement— has been mentoring select graduate students to become successful clinical researchers and skilled, evidence-based therapists. Several of his former doc­ toral students have gone on to achieve national distinction in the field of clinical psychology. Among others are Kelly Brownell (himself a recipient of this same award), David Abrams, Michael Sayette, Jeff Lackner, Carolyn Black Becker, and Janet Latner. Collectively they have made im­ portant research and clinical contributions to the field. Three (Brownell, Abrams, and Becker) became presidents of such major international and interdisciplinary associations as AABT, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Acad­ emy of Eating Disorders. Wilson has received a number of honors and awards. These include the Award for Distinguished Scientific Con­ tributions to Clinical Psychology from Division 12 of the American Psychological Association (APA; 1994); the Dan­ iel Gorenstein Memorial Award from Rutgers University (1997); the Award for Outstanding Service to AABT/ABCT (2005); the Outstanding Mentor Award from ABCT (2008); the Leadership Award for Research from the Academy of Eating Disorders (2008); the Aaron T. Beck Award from the Academy of Cognitive Therapy (2012); the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Eating Disorders (2013); and the Craig Johnson Award for Excellence in Clinical Practice and Training from the National Eating Dis­ orders Association (2014). Among Wilson’s many professional activities were serv­ ing as president of AABT (1980-1981) and as a member of the following groups: the American Psychiatric Association’s Work Group on Classification of Eating Disorders for DSM-IV (1988-1993), the APA Board of Scientific Affairs (1991-1994), the Advisory Committee at the Center for Ad­ vanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (1993-1998), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ National Task Force on the Prevention and Treat­ ment of Obesity (1995-2002), and the American Psychiatric Association’s Work Group on Classification of Eating Dis­ orders for DSM-5 (2007-2012). He has served as editor-inchief of Behaviour Research and Therapy, the leading inter­ national journal on cognitive behavior therapy, since 2002. S e le c te d B i b l io g r a p h y Brownell, K. D., Marlatt, G. A., Lichtenstein, E., & Wilson, G. T. (1986). Understanding and preventing relapse. American Psychologist, 41, 765782. doi: 10.1037/0003-066X.41.7.765 Fairbum, C. G., Marcus, M. D., & Wilson, G. T. (1993). Cognitivebehavioral therapy for binge eating and bulimia nervosa: A comprehen­ sive treatment manual. In C. G. Fairbum & G. T. Wilson (Eds.), Binge eating: Nature, assessment and treatment (pp. 361-404). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Franks, C. M., & Wilson, G. T. (Eds.). (1973). Annual review o f behavior therapy: Theory and practice (Vol. 1.). New York, NY: Brunner/Mazel. Hollon, S. D., & Wilson, G. T. (2014). Psychoanalysis versus cognitive behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa: The specificity of psychological

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treatments. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 171, 13-16. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13101302 Kazdin, A. E., & Wilson, G. T. (1978). Criteria for evaluating psychother­ apy. Archives o f General Psychiatry, 35, 407-416. doi:10.1001/archpsyc .1978.01770280017001 Kazdin, A. E., & Wilson, G. T. (1978). Evaluation of behavior therapy: Issues, evidence and research strategies. Cambridge, MA: Ballinger. Kraemer, H. C., Wilson, G. T., Fairburn, C. G.. & Agras, W. S. (2002). Mediators and moderators of treatment effects in randomized clinical trials. Archives of General Psychiatry, 59, 877—883. doi:10.1001/ archpsyc.59.10.877 Rachman, S., & Wilson, G. T. (1980). The effects o f psychological therapy. Oxford, England: Pergamon Press. Wilson, G. T. (1973). Counterconditioning versus forced exposure in the extinction of avoidance responding and conditioned fear in rats. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 82, 105-114. doi: 10.1037/h0033819 Wilson, G. T. (1978). The importance of being theoretical: A commentary on Bandura’s “Self-efficacy: Towards a unifying theory of behavioral change.” Advances in Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1, 217-230. doi: 10.1016/0146-6402(78)90010-3 Wilson, G. T. (1980). Towards specifying the “non-specifics” in behavior therapy: A social learning analysis. In M. J. Mahoney (Ed.), Psychother­ apy process (pp. 283-307). New York, NY: Plenum Press. doi:10.1007/ 978-l-4615-9125-2_19 Wilson, G. T. (1982). Psychotherapy process and procedure: The behavioral mandate. Behavior Therapy, 13, 291-312. doi:10.1016/S00057894(82)80039-7

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Wilson, G. T. (1996). Manual-based treatments: The clinical application of research findings. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 34, 295-314. doi: 10.1016/0005-7967(95)00084-4 Wilson, G. T. (2007). Manual-based treatment: Evolution and evaluation. In T. A. Treat, R. R. Bootzin, & T. B. Baker (Eds.), Psychological clinical science: Papers in honor o f Richard M. McFall (pp. 105-132). New York, NY: Routledge. Wilson, G. T., & Davison, G. C. (1971). Processes of fear-reduction in systematic desensitization: Animal studies. Psychological Bulletin, 76, 1-14. doi: 10.1037/h0031480 Wilson, G. T., Fairburn, C. G., & Agras, W. S. (1997). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for bulimia nervosa. In D. M. Gamer & P. Garfinkel (Eds.), Handbook o f treatment for eating disorders (pp. 67-93). New York, NY: Guilford Press. Wilson, G. T., Fairburn, C. G., Agras, W. S., Walsh, B. T., & Kraemer, H. D. (2002). Cognitive behavior therapy for bulimia nervosa: Time course and mechanisms of change. Journal o f Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 267-274. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.70.2.267 Wilson, G. T„ Hannon, A., & Evans, W. I. M. (1968). Behavior therapy and the therapist-patient relationship. Journal o f Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 32, 103-109. doi:10.1037/h0025626 Wilson, G. T., & Rachman, S. (1983). Meta-analysis and evaluation of psychotherapy outcome: Limitations and liabilities. Journal of Consult­ ing and Clinical Psychology, 51, 54-64. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.51.1.54 Wilson, G. T„ Wilfley, D. E„ Agras, W. S., & Bryson, S. W. (2010). Psychological treatments for binge eating disorder. Archives of General Psychiatry, 67, 94-101. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.170

November 2014 • American Psychologist

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G. Terence Wilson: Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology.

The APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology is presented to a person who, in the opinion of the Committee on Scientific Awar...
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