Plante graduated with a Sc.B. in psychology from Brown University, later receiving his MA and PhD in Clinical Psychology from University of Kansas. He did a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical and health psychology at Yale University. He has been Associate Professor and Professor at Santa Clara University in the Department of Psychology. In 2010 and 2011, Plante served as President of Division 36 of the American Psychological Association.
In 2002, Time featured comments from Plante, as one of five "leading Catholics," on how the Catholic Church could overcome the sexual abuse crisis. He noted that only about 5% of priests had been involved in sexual abuse of minors, a percentage "not inconsistent with other male clergy or with the general population." He also suggested that a "militaristic hierarchy" in the church might have contributed to a comparatively large number of victims per abuser. Later the same month, Time published a letter that referred to Plante's remarks, and asked why Time didn't say more about the 95% of priests who were not abusers.
In 2005, Time discussed Plante's role in screening applicants for seminary training to become priests.
In 2000, the Boston Herald discussed Plante's work showing links between stronger religious faith and recovery from substance abuse.
He has been covered in magazines for professionals. For example:
In 2002, the Monitor on Psychology, sent to all members of the American Psychological Association, covered Plante's ideas about how psychologists might help resolve the crisis in the Roman Catholic Church. He argued that psychologists "can offer the best in science and the best in practice and let data cut through the hysteria."
Plante has been covered in regional media outlets. For example:
In 2011, Plante was quoted in an article in the VictorvilleDaily Press about scientific research on gratitude.
Plante's writings have also been published in mass media outlets. For example:
In 2004, the San Francisco Chronicle published a story by Plante commenting on the sexual abuse crisis.
Research
Plante's clinical and research interests include psychological issues among Catholic clergy and laypersons, ethical decision making, health effects related to spiritual and religious involvement, stress and coping, and the influence of aerobic exercise and perceived fitness on psychological functioning. Plante's 2001 book, , is commonly cited in the professional psychology literature, where it was the focus of several published reviews. In Contemporary Psychology, Richards and O'Grady wrote that "Faith and Health takes us well beyond Freud's, Watson's, Skinner's, and Ellis's oversimplified, negative views of religion and spirituality... sets a high standard of methodological rigor, openness, and balance." Plante's 2010 book, Contemplative Practices in Action, was reviewed by several professional journals. PsycCRITIQUES described the book as "recommended for those who wish to broaden the discourse beyond mindfulness. Beyond making the case for contemplation as the broader category, it addresses the concern of some that mindfulness can be directed toward the glorification of the self."
Publications
Plante has authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited sixteen books including
Contemplative Practices in Action: Spirituality, Meditation, and Health
Spiritual Practices in Psychotherapy: Thirteen Tools for Enhancing Psychological Health
Spirit, Science and Health: How the Spiritual Mind Fuels Physical Wellness
