title: Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Applications of Psychology: James W. Pennebaker.
abstract: The APA Award for Distinguished Scientific Applications of Psychology is presented to a person who, in the opinion of the Committee on Scientific Awards, has made distinguished theoretical or empirical advances leading to the understanding or amelioration of important practical problems. The 2016 recipient is James W. Pennebaker, whose research on the therapeutic benefits of expressive writing and the computer-based analysis of everyday language have affected most theoretical and applied areas of psychology. His award citation, biography, and a selected bibliography are presented here. (PsycINFO Database Record
mesh_terms: D001363:Awards and Prizes; D004644:Emotions; D049674:History, 21st Century; D007802:Language / Q000266:history; D011584:Psychology / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States; D014956:Writing