Stanley Rachman

Stanley "Jack" Rachman (January 19, 1934 – September 2, 2021) was a South African–born Canadian psychologist who worked primarily with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders. He was also a founding editor of the journal Behaviour Research and Therapy, alongside Hans Eysenck. In 1961, Rachman completed his Ph.D. at the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London, under the supervision of psychologist Hans Eysenck.

In his career, Rachman worked primarily with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and other anxiety disorders. Rachman served on multiple editorial boards. He has published books and hundreds of articles on obsessive–compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders, recently proposing new cognitive models and treatments for obsessions and compulsive checking, as well as proposing a revised conceptualization of the fear of contamination.

Rachman was Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London. In 1982, he moved to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.

Recognition Rachman received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Psychological Society in 2009, as well as an award from the American Psychological Association, Division 12, in 1982. The Canadian Council of Professional Psychology Programs also issued the Award for Excellence in Professional Training to Rachman in 2002.

Personal life Stanley Rachman met his wife, Clare Philips, during his time at the Institute of Psychiatry. He moved with Philips to her home country, Canada, in 1982. He is the father of author Tom Rachman and journalist Gideon Rachman.

Rachman used the pseudonym "Jack Durac" to write several publications, including joke articles in Behaviour Research and Therapy, as well as a wine book titled A Matter of Taste. He claimed that he received more funds from the latter book than any of his psychology work.