Sample Topics:
Social Practices

Click the citation titles below for the article abstract, and a link to the full text in PDF format, if available.

N.B. In order to avoid redundancy, publications are not included below that focus primarily on pathology, case formulation, or psychotherapeutic policies and techniques. Please consult
“Sample Topics: Clinical and Therapy” for those papers.

 
Parenting

Bergner, L.L. (1990). The Use of the status concept in developing effective relationships between police chiefs and officers. In K.E. Davis, (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 5, (pp. 47-60). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Bergner, R.M. (1998). Coaching and teaching. In H.J. Jeffrey and R.M. Bergner, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 7, (pp. 321-340). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Bergner, R.M. (1998). Coaching and motivation. In H.J. Jeffrey and R.M. Bergner, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 7, (pp. 301-320). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Bergner, R.M. (1998). Leadership in athletic coaching. In H.J. Jeffrey and R.M. Bergner, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 7, (pp. 281-300). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Holt S.B. (1990) Appraisal and competence in moral judgment and behavior. In K.E. Davis, (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 5, (pp. 173-197). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Kantor, C. (2010). Children’s Imaginative Play: A Descriptive Psychology Approach.In K. E. Davis, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.9, (pp. 257-285). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Mika, P., Bergner, R., & Baum, M. (2001). The parentification scale. In Touliatis, J., Perlmutter, B, & Holden, G., Handbook of family measurement techniques (2d ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Roberts, M.K. (1992). On the Outside Looking In: A Conceptualization of Adolescence. In M.K. Roberts, & R.M. Bergner, (Eds.). Clinical Topics: Contributions to the Conceptualization and Treatment of Adolescent-Family Problems, Bulimia, Chronic Mental Illness, and Mania. Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 6, (pp. 79-105). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Roberts, M.K. (1992). Psychotherapy with adolescents and their families: A status dynamic approach. In M.K. Roberts, & R.M. Bergner, (Eds.). Clinical Topics: Contributions to the Conceptualization and Treatment of Adolescent-Family Problems, Bulimia, Chronic Mental Illness, and Mania. Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 6, (pp. 235-256). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

 
 
Interpersonal interactions

Allen, C. (2013). Gender as one’s eligibility to engage in social practices: Unpacking the relationship between masculinity and intimate partner violence. In K.E. Davis, R.M. Bergner, & F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.10, (pp. 235-259). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Aylesworth, L., & Ossorio, P. (1983). Refugees: Cultural displacement and its effects. In K. Davis and R. Bergner (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 3, (pp. 45-92). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Bergner, R., & Bergner, L. (1990). Sexual misunderstanding: A descriptive and pragmatic formulation. Psychotherapy, 27, 34-38.

Bretscher, F., & Bergner, R.M. (1992). Relational Qualities as Factors in Mate Selection Decisions. In M.K. Roberts, & R.M. Bergner, (Eds.). Clinical Topics: Contributions to the Conceptualization and Treatment of Adolescent-Family Problems, Bulimia, Chronic Mental Illness, and Mania. Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 6, (pp. 107-123). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Kirsch, N. (1982). Attempted suicide and restrictions in the eligibility to negotiate personal characteristics. In K. Davis and T. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 2, (pp. 249-273). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Latham, C.A. (1990). A High Power – Low Power Account of Gender Differences in Self-Criticism. In K.E. Davis, (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 5, (pp. 237-259). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Ossorio, P.G. (2006). In a world of persons and their ways. In K. E. Davis, & R. M Bergner (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 8 (pp. 11-42). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Putman, A.O. (1981). Click Communities. In K. Davis (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 1, (pp. 195-209). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Putman, A.O. (1990). Organizations. In K.E. Davis, (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 5, (pp. 11-46). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Roberts, M. (1982). Men and women: Partners, lovers, friends. In K. Davis and T. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 2, (pp. 57-58). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Roberts, M. (1985). I and Thou: A study of personal relationships. In K. Davis and T. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 4, (pp. 231-256). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Roberts, M.K. (2010). An accomplice’s tale. In K. E. Davis, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.9, (pp. 161-190). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Sapin, C.R. & Forward, J.R. (1990). A status dynamic formulation of sex roles: Putting sex roles in their place. In K.E. Davis, (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 5, (pp. 215-236). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Torres, W.J. & Bergner, R.M. (2010). Humiliation: Its nature and consequences. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, 38, 195–204

Torres, W.J., & Bergner, R.M. (2012). Severe public humiliation: Its nature, consequences, and clinical treatment. Psychotherapy Theory Research Practice Training, 49, 492-501

 
 
Significance

Bergner, R.M. (1987) Undoing degradation. Psychotherapy, 24, 25-30.

Bergner, R. (2009). Trauma, exposure, and world reconstruction. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 63, 267-282.

Bergner, R., & Bunford, N. (2017). Mental disorder is a disability concept, not a behavioral one. An empirical investigation. Philosophy, Psychiatry, and Psychology, 24, 25-40.

Bunford, N., & Bergner, R. (2012). Suicide and impossible worlds: An empirical investigation. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 33, 335-343.

Davis, K.E. (2006). Stalkers and their Worlds. In K. E. Davis, & R. M Bergner (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 8, (pp. 325-348). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Jeffrey, H.J. (1998). Consciousness, experience, and a Person’s world. In H.J. Jeffrey and R.M. Bergner, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 7, (pp. 67-106). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Latham, C.A. (1990). A High Power – Low Power Account of Gender Differences in Self-Criticism. In K.E. Davis, (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 5, (pp. 237-259). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Marshall, K. (1985). Scenarios of “alcoholic” relationships. In K. Davis and T. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 4, (pp. 259-278). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Marshall, K.M. (1992). A bulimic life pattern. In M.K. Roberts, & R.M. Bergner, (Eds.). Clinical Topics: Contributions to the Conceptualization and Treatment of Adolescent-Family Problems, Bulimia, Chronic Mental Illness, and Mania. Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 6, (pp. 257-269). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Ossorio, P.G. (1990). Appraisal. In K.E. Davis, (Ed.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 5, (pp. 155-171). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Orvik, J.M. (1992). The dropped out: Redescribing chronic mental illness as a question about communities. In M.K. Roberts, & R.M. Bergner, (Eds.). Clinical Topics: Contributions to the Conceptualization and Treatment of Adolescent-Family Problems, Bulimia, Chronic Mental Illness, and Mania. Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 6, (pp. 271-297). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Roberts, M.K. (1992). On the Outside Looking In: A Conceptualization of Adolescence. In M.K. Roberts, & R.M. Bergner, (Eds.). Clinical Topics: Contributions to the Conceptualization and Treatment of Adolescent-Family Problems, Bulimia, Chronic Mental Illness, and Mania. Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 6, (pp. 79-105). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Roberts, M.K. (1992). Companions of Uncertain Status. In M.K. Roberts, & R.M. Bergner, (Eds.). Clinical Topics: Contributions to the Conceptualization and Treatment of Adolescent-Family Problems, Bulimia, Chronic Mental Illness, and Mania. Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 6 (pp. 33-77). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Roberts, M.K. (2010). An accomplice’s tale. In K. E. Davis, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.9 (pp. 161-190). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Schwartz, W. (1979). Degradation, Accreditation, and Rites of Passage. Psychiatry, 42(2), 138-146.

Torres, W.J. & Bergner, R.M. (2010). Humiliation: Its nature and consequences. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law, 38, 195–204

Torres, W.J., & Bergner, R.M. (2012). Severe public humiliation: Its nature, consequences, and clinical treatment. Psychotherapy Theory Research Practice Training, 49, 492-501

Wechsler, R.C. (2013). Trauma concepts: A descriptive psychological formulation of the nature of trauma and its consequences. In K.E. Davis, R.M. Bergner, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.10, (pp. 149-174). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.