Benjamin Karpman
Encyclopedia
Benjamin "Ben" Karpman was an American
psychiatrist
known for his work on human sexuality
. He served as Professor and Head of Psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine
from 1921 to 1941.
, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1915, a Master’s degree in 1918, and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1920. While at University of Minnesota Medical School
, he worked with Jesse Francis McClendon
on pioneering in situ pH measurements in the human digestive tract. After completing his internship at St. Elizabeths Hospital
, he rose to the position of Senior Medical Officer and Psychotherapist. Karpman was a proponent of psychoanalysis
and published many case report
s based on his clinical experience. At Howard, he introduced dynamic psychiatry
into the medical curriculum.
Karpman was a contributor to The American Mercury
, where he was critical of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act
. He was elected to the New York Academy of Sciences
in 1953. Karpman was critical of both law and medicine in their treatment of social problems. He presicted that by 2010 the U.S. would have no prisons, just psychiatric treatment centers for lawbreakers. "I am at odds with the legal profession and most of psychiatry," he conceded, "but they're all wrong. The question is simply, 'Is the accused sick or not?' You can't have mental illness and criminal responsibility in the same person at the same time."
Karpman had a heart attack on May 23, 1962 and died the next day.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
known for his work on human sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
. He served as Professor and Head of Psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine
Howard University College of Medicine
The Howard University College of Medicine is an academic division of Howard University, and grants the Doctor of Medicine , Ph.D., MS, and the MPH...
from 1921 to 1941.
Life and career
Karpman was born in Slutzk. He graduated from University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, earning a bachelor’s degree in 1915, a Master’s degree in 1918, and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1920. While at University of Minnesota Medical School
University of Minnesota Medical School
The University of Minnesota Medical School is the medical school of the University of Minnesota. It is a combination of two campuses situated in Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota....
, he worked with Jesse Francis McClendon
Jesse Francis McClendon
Jesse Francis McClendon was an American chemist, zoologist and physiologist. He is remembered today mainly for the first pH measurement of human stomach in situ.Jesse F...
on pioneering in situ pH measurements in the human digestive tract. After completing his internship at St. Elizabeths Hospital
St. Elizabeths Hospital
St. Elizabeths Hospital is a psychiatric hospital operated by the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health. It was the first large-scale, federally-run psychiatric hospital in the United States. Housing several thousand patients at its peak, St. Elizabeths had a fully functioning...
, he rose to the position of Senior Medical Officer and Psychotherapist. Karpman was a proponent of psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and published many case report
Case report
In medicine, a case report is a detailed report of the symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of an individual patient. Case reports may contain a demographic profile of the patient, but usually describe an unusual or novel occurrence....
s based on his clinical experience. At Howard, he introduced dynamic psychiatry
Dynamic psychiatry
Dynamic psychiatry is that which is based on the study of emotional processes, their origins, and the mental mechanisms underlying them, rather than observable behavioral phenomena, in contrast with descriptive psychiatry which is based on the study of observable symptoms and behavioral phenomena...
into the medical curriculum.
Karpman was a contributor to The American Mercury
The American Mercury
The American Mercury was an American magazine published from 1924 to 1981. It was founded as the brainchild of H. L. Mencken and drama critic George Jean Nathan. The magazine featured writing by some of the most important writers in the United States through the 1920s and 1930s...
, where he was critical of the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act
Harrison Narcotics Tax Act
The Harrison Narcotics Tax Act was a United States federal law that regulated and taxed the production, importation, and distribution of opiates...
. He was elected to the New York Academy of Sciences
New York Academy of Sciences
The New York Academy of Sciences is the third oldest scientific society in the United States. An independent, non-profit organization with more than members in 140 countries, the Academy’s mission is to advance understanding of science and technology...
in 1953. Karpman was critical of both law and medicine in their treatment of social problems. He presicted that by 2010 the U.S. would have no prisons, just psychiatric treatment centers for lawbreakers. "I am at odds with the legal profession and most of psychiatry," he conceded, "but they're all wrong. The question is simply, 'Is the accused sick or not?' You can't have mental illness and criminal responsibility in the same person at the same time."
Karpman had a heart attack on May 23, 1962 and died the next day.