Corbett H. Thigpen
Encyclopedia
Dr. Corbett H. Thigpen was an American psychiatrist and co-author of the internationally-popular, nonfictional book The Three Faces of Eve
.
Born in Macon, Georgia
, Thigpen helped his family live through the Great Depression by turning his interest in amateur magic to professional account at age 14, making presentations to local civic clubs. His lifelong involvement in this hobby resulted in his being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Southeastern Association of Magicians. By contrast he considered among his highest achievements his earning of the Eagle Scout Award of the Boy Scouts of America
and supported that group throughout his life.
Educationally, having attended North Georgia State College and University, in 1971 Dr. Thigpen served as President of its Alumni Association and was named Outstanding Alumnus in 1971-72 after helping lead a successful fight in the Georgia General Assembly to maintain the military character of the school. Further, being a 1942 graduate of Mercer University
in Macon, in 1997 he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of that school. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG)
in Augusta in 1945, having served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and continued to serve, but as a Captain and physician, until mustering out in 1948.
Dr. Thigpen then entered into the private practice of psychiatry with Dr. Hervey M. Cleckley
, a brilliant and highly-accomplished physician. Together, for much of the 1940s and most of the 1950s, they comprised the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology at MCG, being then and there the only teachers in those fields, while also maintaining their private practice. Dr. Thigpen rose to the status of Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at MCG. A former medical student and Augusta doctor has remarked that in his academic career Dr. Thigpen's class was the only one in which the professor received a standing ovation after every lecture. He was also known internationally for his research, publishing more than 40 professional papers.
In 1957 with Dr. Cleckley he co-authored the book The Three Faces of Eve, the first popularized account of a case of what is now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. Further, this case was apparently the first instance of a such a patient's demonstrating more than two personalities. The book was made into a film, released later that year and starring Joanne Woodward, who earned an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. At the authors' behest the film strictly and without exaggeration followed the actual patient's life and treatment. Documentation exists that the patient and all pertinent members of her family received compensation for their permissions to publish their stories. Dr. Thigpen ended his life on good terms with the patient.
During the mid-1960s Dr. Thigpen actively stated his opposition to the policy direction of the Vietnam War, believing that it was not being fought to win, and vehemently disagreed with increasing the role of government in citizens' lives, particularly in the medical field, a trend he predicted would result in a decrease in the general quality of healthcare. To express these ideas, Thigpen wrote the speech "A Psychiatrist Looks At His Nation" and presented it approximately 150 times across Georgia and South Carolina over about a two-year period. As a result, in 1968 he was awarded the Freedom Foundation's George Washington Medal. Further, he was named a member of the Distinguished Speakers of America. All these addresses were undertaken at his own expense and apparently devoid of political ambition. Specifically, the Georgia Republican Party asked that he consider running for governor and later for the U.S. Senate; he respectfully declined both, indicating that the times probably were not ripe.
Dr. Thigpen continued his practice of psychiatry until 1987, when vertigo
forced retirement. In 1988 he was honored with proclamations of good citizenship by the Mayor of Augusta and the Governor of Georgia.
Hervey M. Cleckley
The Three Faces of Eve
The Three Faces of Eve
The Three Faces of Eve is a 1957 American film adaptation of a case study by Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley. It was based on the true story of Chris Costner Sizemore, also known as Eve White, a woman who suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder formerly known as multiple personality...
.
Born in Macon, Georgia
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, Thigpen helped his family live through the Great Depression by turning his interest in amateur magic to professional account at age 14, making presentations to local civic clubs. His lifelong involvement in this hobby resulted in his being inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Southeastern Association of Magicians. By contrast he considered among his highest achievements his earning of the Eagle Scout Award of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and supported that group throughout his life.
Educationally, having attended North Georgia State College and University, in 1971 Dr. Thigpen served as President of its Alumni Association and was named Outstanding Alumnus in 1971-72 after helping lead a successful fight in the Georgia General Assembly to maintain the military character of the school. Further, being a 1942 graduate of Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
in Macon, in 1997 he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of that school. He graduated from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG)
Medical College of Georgia
Georgia Health Sciences University formerly known as, and now home of the, Medical College of Georgia , is a public academic health center, with its main campus located in the Medical District of Augusta, Georgia. It is the smallest of four research universities in the University System of Georgia...
in Augusta in 1945, having served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and continued to serve, but as a Captain and physician, until mustering out in 1948.
Dr. Thigpen then entered into the private practice of psychiatry with Dr. Hervey M. Cleckley
Hervey M. Cleckley
Dr. Hervey Milton Cleckley was an American psychiatrist and pioneer in the field of psychopathy. His book, The Mask of Sanity, originally published in 1941, provided the most influential clinical description of psychopathy in the 20th Century...
, a brilliant and highly-accomplished physician. Together, for much of the 1940s and most of the 1950s, they comprised the Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology at MCG, being then and there the only teachers in those fields, while also maintaining their private practice. Dr. Thigpen rose to the status of Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at MCG. A former medical student and Augusta doctor has remarked that in his academic career Dr. Thigpen's class was the only one in which the professor received a standing ovation after every lecture. He was also known internationally for his research, publishing more than 40 professional papers.
In 1957 with Dr. Cleckley he co-authored the book The Three Faces of Eve, the first popularized account of a case of what is now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. Further, this case was apparently the first instance of a such a patient's demonstrating more than two personalities. The book was made into a film, released later that year and starring Joanne Woodward, who earned an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role. At the authors' behest the film strictly and without exaggeration followed the actual patient's life and treatment. Documentation exists that the patient and all pertinent members of her family received compensation for their permissions to publish their stories. Dr. Thigpen ended his life on good terms with the patient.
During the mid-1960s Dr. Thigpen actively stated his opposition to the policy direction of the Vietnam War, believing that it was not being fought to win, and vehemently disagreed with increasing the role of government in citizens' lives, particularly in the medical field, a trend he predicted would result in a decrease in the general quality of healthcare. To express these ideas, Thigpen wrote the speech "A Psychiatrist Looks At His Nation" and presented it approximately 150 times across Georgia and South Carolina over about a two-year period. As a result, in 1968 he was awarded the Freedom Foundation's George Washington Medal. Further, he was named a member of the Distinguished Speakers of America. All these addresses were undertaken at his own expense and apparently devoid of political ambition. Specifically, the Georgia Republican Party asked that he consider running for governor and later for the U.S. Senate; he respectfully declined both, indicating that the times probably were not ripe.
Dr. Thigpen continued his practice of psychiatry until 1987, when vertigo
Vertigo (medical)
Vertigo is a type of dizziness, where there is a feeling of motion when one is stationary. The symptoms are due to a dysfunction of the vestibular system in the inner ear...
forced retirement. In 1988 he was honored with proclamations of good citizenship by the Mayor of Augusta and the Governor of Georgia.
See also
Category: Personality Disorders: Multiple Personality Disorder/Dissociative Identity DisorderDissociative identity disorder
Dissociative identity disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis and describes a condition in which a person displays multiple distinct identities , each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment....
Hervey M. Cleckley
Hervey M. Cleckley
Dr. Hervey Milton Cleckley was an American psychiatrist and pioneer in the field of psychopathy. His book, The Mask of Sanity, originally published in 1941, provided the most influential clinical description of psychopathy in the 20th Century...
The Three Faces of Eve
The Three Faces of Eve
The Three Faces of Eve is a 1957 American film adaptation of a case study by Corbett H. Thigpen and Hervey M. Cleckley. It was based on the true story of Chris Costner Sizemore, also known as Eve White, a woman who suffered from Dissociative Identity Disorder formerly known as multiple personality...