Mortimer Powell Lawton (1923–2001) was an American psychologist who was known for his work on the psychological and social aspects of aging.[1]

Early life and education

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Lawton was born in Atlanta and received his undergraduate degree from Haverford College in 1947 and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Columbia University in 1952.[2]

Career

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Lawton began his career as the chief psychologist at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island.[2]

Lawton held academic positions at the Medical College of Pennsylvania and the Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia.[2]

In the early 1960s, he conducted research on the design of living spaces for older adults, including those with Alzheimer's disease.[2] His work influenced the services provided at the Philadelphia Geriatric Center and elder care practices in the United States.[2]

Lawton served as the editor-in-chief of The Annual Review of Gerontology and Geriatrics and was a fellow of the American Psychological Association, where he also served as the president of its division focused on adult development and aging.[2] He was a founding editor of the journal Psychology and Aging.[1] Colleagues dedicated a book to him titled The Many Dimensions of Aging, which explores various aspects of his work.[3][4]

Recognition

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M. Powell Lawton Award is named after him.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "M. Powell Lawton (1923-2001)". Psychology and Aging. 16 (1): 30–30. March 2001. doi:10.1037/h0087879.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Saxon, Wolfgang (February 5, 2001). "Dr. M. Powell Lawton, 77, Expert on the Elderly" – via NYTimes.com.
  3. ^ Maddox, George L. (1 February 2001). "M. Powell Lawton: Honoring a Career and a Life". The Gerontologist. 41 (1): 129–130. doi:10.1093/geront/41.1.129.
  4. ^ Tesch-Römer, Clemens (December 2002). "Legacy of a Multifaceted Gerontologist". Contemporary Psychology. 47 (6): 718–719. doi:10.1037/001284.
  5. ^ "M. Powell Lawton Award". www.geron.org.

Further reading

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  • Rubinstein, Robert L.; Moss, Miriam; Kleban, Morton H. (2000). The many dimensions of aging. New York, NY: Springer. ISBN 978-0826112477.