On March 5, 2011 at Columbia University’s Faculty Club, James O. Prochaska, PhD was one of six inaugural recipients to receive the Beckman Award.
The Beckman Award is given to current or former academic faculty members who have inspired their students to establish, on a lasting basis, a movement of major benefit to the community at large. Jim was nominated by John Norcross, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Distinguished University Fellow, University of Scranton and Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Psychology. John was Jim’s graduate student 30 years ago when he worked with Jim on the first National Cancer Institute grant studying the Stages of Change.
In his nomination, Dr. Norcross stated:
“Search Google for the stages of change and you will discover over 10,100,000 sources. Venture into the professional literature and you will find more than 3,000 journal articles on psychology’s electronic database. Pick up virtually any textbook on the addictions, clinical psychology, health psychology, behavior change, or health promotion and you will assuredly discover a section dealing with the stages of change (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance) and the broader transtheoretical model. That has been the direct result of Dr. Prochaska’s pioneering research and inspiring generations of scientist-practitioners.”
Dr. Norcross went on to state:
“But professional popularity does not begin to describe the stages’ revolutionary impact on behavior change around the world. Thirty years ago, practically all attempts at behavior change (e.g., psychotherapy, medication, self-initiated change, health promotion) targeted individuals in the action stage: aware of their problem and ready to change it. Unfortunately, only 20% of individuals suffering from life-threatening problems are in the action stage; that is, most treatments were ignoring or mistreating 80% of the population. As a concept, the stages of change represented a paradigm change: from targeting only 20% of the population in the action stage to treating entire populations in all stages. As a procedure, stage-matching interventions lead to tremendous advances in our ability to (a) reach at least four times as many people suffering from behavioral disorders and (b) increase our effectiveness in helping them restore their health and well-being.”
Jim donated part of the Beckman Award to support a special Speakers Series to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Psychology Department and the 30th Anniversary of the Cancer Prevention Research Center at the University of Rhode Island. He also donated part of the award to the Star Island Conference Center for multi-generational conferences designed to enhance the well-being of families from newborns all the way to their great grandparents.
About Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award Trust
Dr. Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman was an educator, a renowned author, and a pioneer in the field of psychology. She was one of the first female Psychology professors at Columbia University and she taught at the University of Pennsylvania. She authored nine books and textbooks about child and adolescent psychology. She was a clinician of gender equality and an advocate for the advancement of women in academia. Gail McKnight Beckman created the award in memory of her mother. For additional information, please visit www.wellsfargo.com/privatefoundationgrants/beckman.