Thomas Gordon (writer)

Thomas Gordon (writer) (March 11, 1918 – August 26, 2002) was an American clinical psychologist and management consultant. He is best known as the creator of the Parent Effectiveness Training (P.E.T.) model, a program that teaches parents communication and problem-solving skills to improve their relationships with their children.

Gordon earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Chicago in 1943. After serving in World War II, he held various positions in clinical psychology and consulting before developing P.E.T. in the early 1960s.

P.E.T. emphasizes active listening, assertive communication (expressing one's needs and feelings without aggression), and conflict resolution based on mutual respect and understanding. Key principles of P.E.T. include avoiding the use of power and authority in parent-child interactions and focusing on identifying and meeting the needs of both the parent and the child. Gordon's approach also introduced concepts like the "no-lose method" of conflict resolution, which aims for solutions where both parties have their needs met.

The Parent Effectiveness Training program became internationally popular, and Gordon went on to develop similar training programs for other groups, including Teacher Effectiveness Training (T.E.T.) and Leader Effectiveness Training (L.E.T.). He authored numerous books, including "Parent Effectiveness Training" (1970), "T.E.T.: Teacher Effectiveness Training" (1974), and "Leader Effectiveness Training, L.E.T." (1977).

Gordon received several awards for his work, including the Gold Medal Award for Enduring Contribution to Psychology from the American Psychological Foundation in 1999. His work has had a significant impact on parenting practices and communication skills training in various settings. He is considered a pioneer in the field of human relations training.