Boris Mayer Levinson (July 1, 1907 - April 2, 1984) was an American psychologist who accidentally discovered the therapeutic benefits of animal-assisted therapy.[1]
Continuing with his studies, Levinson did a Bachelor of Science at City University of New York in 1937 and in 1938 he earned a Master of Science in Education. In 1947, he earned his PhD in clinical psychology from New York University. His dissertation, "A Comparative Study of Certain Homeless and Unattached Domiciled Men," lead him to become a pioneer in the study of homeless men.[4][5] He wrote several articles about the topic. He also wrote about other topics, such as the psychological traits of children of traditional Jewish backgrounds,[6][7][8]childhood autism, intellectual disability and animal assisted therapy.[4]
Animal-Assisted Therapyedit
In 1953, while giving therapy to a withdrawn child he observed that the child opened up to his dog, Jingles, by talking to it. It led to the accidental discovery about the possibility of using a dog in therapy. Initially, he dismissed the idea, but later, in 1961, wrote an article titled "The dog as a "co-therapist"," which he later presented at a meeting of the American Psychological Association. Many of the audience met him with ridicule, while some others accepted his ideas.[4][9][10] Levinson's first article about the human-animal bond cemented the way to later research and ideas in this field. He also coined the term "pet therapy" on his second article about the human-animal bond in 1964.[11][4]
He continued to write more articles about the topic, as well as books.[4][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] He's known as one of the fathers of the field of animal-assisted therapy.[4][9]
Personal lifeedit
In 1934, Levinson married his first wife, Ruth Berkowitz, and they had two sons. They later divorced and Levinson married for the second time to Aida Peñaranda, a diplomat from Bolivia, in 1974.[4]
Deathedit
Levinson died of a heart attack in 1984. He was the director of human animal companion therapy at the Blueberry Center and was professor emeritus of psychology of Yeshiva University.[4][1]
Referencesedit
^ ab"Dr. Boris M. Levinson Dead; Aided Disturbed Youngsters". The New York Times. 1984-04-03.
^ abcdefghiMallon, Gerald P. (1994-12-01). "A Generous Spirit: The Work and Life of Boris Levinson". Anthrozoös. 7 (4): 224–231. doi:10.2752/089279394787001790.
^Levinson, Boris M. (1947). A comparative study of certain homeless and unattached domiciled men (Thesis). OCLC 12885297.
^Levinson, Boris M. (1959). "A comparison of the performance of bilingual and monolingual native born Jewish preschool children of traditional parentage on four intelligence tests". Journal of Clinical Psychology. 15 (1): 74–76. doi:10.1002/1097-4679(195901)15:1<74::AID-JCLP2270150122>3.0.CO;2-Y. PMID 13611073.
^Levinson, Boris M. (1958-12-01). "Cultural Pressure and Wais Scatter in a Traditional Jewish Setting". The Journal of Genetic Psychology. 93 (2): 277–286. doi:10.1080/00221325.1958.10532424. PMID 13587950.
^Levinson, Boris M. (1960-09-01). "A Comparative Study of the Verbal and Performance Ability of Monolingual and Bilingual Native Born Jewish Preschool Children of Traditional Parentage". The Journal of Genetic Psychology. 97 (1): 93–112. doi:10.1080/00221325.1960.10534316. PMID 14416301.
^ abLevinson, Boris (1982). "The future of research into relationships between people and their animal companions". International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems. 3 (4): 283–294.
^Levinson, B. M. (1962). "The dog as a 'co-therapist'". Mental Hygiene. 46: 59–65. PMID 14464675.
^Levinson, B. M. (April 1964). "Pets: A Special Technique in Child Psychotherapy". Mental Hygiene. 48: 243–248. PMID 14124174.
^Levinson, Boris M. (1965-12-01). "Pet Psychotherapy: Use of Household Pets in the Treatment of Behavior Disorder in Childhood". Psychological Reports. 17 (3): 695–698. doi:10.2466/pr0.1965.17.3.695. PMID 5892572. S2CID 39453023.
^Levinson, Boris M. (1971-04-01). "Household Pets in Training Schools Serving Delinquent Children". Psychological Reports. 28 (2): 475–481. doi:10.2466/pr0.1971.28.2.475. PMID 5104144. S2CID 6061823.
^Levinson, Boris M. (1978-06-01). "Pets and Personality Development". Psychological Reports. 42 (3_suppl): 1031–1038. doi:10.2466/pr0.1978.42.3c.1031. S2CID 143858757.
^Levinson, Boris M. (1984-09-01). "Human/companion animal therapy". Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. 14 (2): 131–144. doi:10.1007/BF00946311. S2CID 1261239.
^Levinson, Boris M (1969). Pet-oriented child psychotherapy. Springfield, Ill.: Thomas. OCLC 65731.
^Levinson, Boris M; Osterweil, Lucille (1984). Autism: myth or reality?. Springfield, Ill.: C.C. Thomas. ISBN978-0-398-04960-7. OCLC 10072727.
April 13, 2024
boris, levinson, boris, mayer, levinson, july, 1907, april, 1984, american, psychologist, accidentally, discovered, therapeutic, benefits, animal, assisted, therapy, boris, mayer, levinsonbornjuly, 1907kalvarija, suwałki, governorate, russian, empire, lithuani. Boris Mayer Levinson July 1 1907 April 2 1984 was an American psychologist who accidentally discovered the therapeutic benefits of animal assisted therapy 1 Boris Mayer LevinsonBornJuly 1 1907Kalvarija Suwalki Governorate Russian Empire now Lithuania DiedApril 2 1984 aged 76 Brooklyn New York CityEducationNew York University PhD 1947 Spouse s Ruth Berkowitz m 1934 div 1974 Aida Penaranda m 1977 until his death Children2 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and education 1 2 Early career 1 3 Animal Assisted Therapy 2 Personal life 3 Death 4 ReferencesBiography editEarly life and education edit Levinson was born to Jewish parents in the Lithuanian town of Kalvarija Suwalki Governorate then in the Russian partition of the Russian Empire He was the third eldest of four siblings When Levinson was 14 his family emigrated in 1923 to the United States to New York City The Levinson family established themselves in Brooklyn East New York He graduated from Eastern District High School in Brooklyn and afterwards became a naturalized U S citizen in 1930 2 3 4 Early career edit Continuing with his studies Levinson did a Bachelor of Science at City University of New York in 1937 and in 1938 he earned a Master of Science in Education In 1947 he earned his PhD in clinical psychology from New York University His dissertation A Comparative Study of Certain Homeless and Unattached Domiciled Men lead him to become a pioneer in the study of homeless men 4 5 He wrote several articles about the topic He also wrote about other topics such as the psychological traits of children of traditional Jewish backgrounds 6 7 8 childhood autism intellectual disability and animal assisted therapy 4 Animal Assisted Therapy edit In 1953 while giving therapy to a withdrawn child he observed that the child opened up to his dog Jingles by talking to it It led to the accidental discovery about the possibility of using a dog in therapy Initially he dismissed the idea but later in 1961 wrote an article titled The dog as a co therapist which he later presented at a meeting of the American Psychological Association Many of the audience met him with ridicule while some others accepted his ideas 4 9 10 Levinson s first article about the human animal bond cemented the way to later research and ideas in this field He also coined the term pet therapy on his second article about the human animal bond in 1964 11 4 He continued to write more articles about the topic as well as books 4 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 He s known as one of the fathers of the field of animal assisted therapy 4 9 Personal life editIn 1934 Levinson married his first wife Ruth Berkowitz and they had two sons They later divorced and Levinson married for the second time to Aida Penaranda a diplomat from Bolivia in 1974 4 Death editLevinson died of a heart attack in 1984 He was the director of human animal companion therapy at the Blueberry Center and was professor emeritus of psychology of Yeshiva University 4 1 References edit a b Dr Boris M Levinson Dead Aided Disturbed Youngsters The New York Times 1984 04 03 New York Southern District U S District Court Naturalization Records 1824 1946 database with images FamilySearch https www familysearch org ark 61903 1 1 QPHG M5WH 8 March 2021 Reysel Levinson 1923 New York Passenger Arrival Lists Ellis Island 1892 1924 database with images FamilySearch https familysearch org ark 61903 1 1 JNXL NMH 2 March 2021 Meyer Ner Levinson 1923 a b c d e f g h i Mallon Gerald P 1994 12 01 A Generous Spirit The Work and Life of Boris Levinson Anthrozoos 7 4 224 231 doi 10 2752 089279394787001790 Levinson Boris M 1947 A comparative study of certain homeless and unattached domiciled men Thesis OCLC 12885297 Levinson Boris M 1959 A comparison of the performance of bilingual and monolingual native born Jewish preschool children of traditional parentage on four intelligence tests Journal of Clinical Psychology 15 1 74 76 doi 10 1002 1097 4679 195901 15 1 lt 74 AID JCLP2270150122 gt 3 0 CO 2 Y PMID 13611073 Levinson Boris M 1958 12 01 Cultural Pressure and Wais Scatter in a Traditional Jewish Setting The Journal of Genetic Psychology 93 2 277 286 doi 10 1080 00221325 1958 10532424 PMID 13587950 Levinson Boris M 1960 09 01 A Comparative Study of the Verbal and Performance Ability of Monolingual and Bilingual Native Born Jewish Preschool Children of Traditional Parentage The Journal of Genetic Psychology 97 1 93 112 doi 10 1080 00221325 1960 10534316 PMID 14416301 a b Levinson Boris 1982 The future of research into relationships between people and their animal companions International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems 3 4 283 294 Levinson B M 1962 The dog as a co therapist Mental Hygiene 46 59 65 PMID 14464675 Levinson B M April 1964 Pets A Special Technique in Child Psychotherapy Mental Hygiene 48 243 248 PMID 14124174 Levinson Boris M 1965 12 01 Pet Psychotherapy Use of Household Pets in the Treatment of Behavior Disorder in Childhood Psychological Reports 17 3 695 698 doi 10 2466 pr0 1965 17 3 695 PMID 5892572 S2CID 39453023 Levinson Boris M 1971 04 01 Household Pets in Training Schools Serving Delinquent Children Psychological Reports 28 2 475 481 doi 10 2466 pr0 1971 28 2 475 PMID 5104144 S2CID 6061823 Levinson Boris M 1972 Pets and human development Springfield Ill Thomas ISBN 978 0 398 02358 4 OCLC 538775 page needed Levinson Boris M 1978 06 01 Pets and Personality Development Psychological Reports 42 3 suppl 1031 1038 doi 10 2466 pr0 1978 42 3c 1031 S2CID 143858757 Levinson Boris M 1984 09 01 Human companion animal therapy Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy 14 2 131 144 doi 10 1007 BF00946311 S2CID 1261239 Levinson Boris M 1969 Pet oriented child psychotherapy Springfield Ill Thomas OCLC 65731 Levinson Boris M Osterweil Lucille 1984 Autism myth or reality Springfield Ill C C Thomas ISBN 978 0 398 04960 7 OCLC 10072727 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boris M Levinson amp oldid 1183620656, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
