Sample Topics:
Status, Persons, Relationships

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 mostly 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.

Allen-Zeiger, C., & Allen, S. (1992). Doing it all isn’t everything: A woman’s guide to harmony and empowerment. Austin, TX: New Perspectives 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.

Bergner, R. (2005). Lovemaking as a ceremony of accreditation. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 31, 1-8.

Bergner, R. (2005). World reconstruction in psychotherapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 59, 1-17.

Bergner, R. (2007). Status dynamics: Creating new paths to therapeutic change. Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Bergner, R. (2017). What is a person? What is the self? Formulations for a science of psychology. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 37, 77-90.

Bergner, R., & Holmes, J. (2000). Self-concepts and self-concept change: A status dynamic formulation. Psychotherapy Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 37, 36-44.

Bergner, R., & Ramon, A. (2013). Some implications of belief in love, free will, and non-reductionism. Journal of Social Psychology, 153, 1-21.

Bergner, R., & Ramon, A. (2014). The Personal Beliefs Scale. American Psychological Association PsychTESTS Database

Beste S., Bergner, R., & Nauta, M. (2003). What keeps love alive? An empirical
investigation. Family Therapy, 30, 125-141.

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.

Davis K.E., & Roberts M.K. (1999). Relationships in the real world: The Descriptive Psychology approach to personal relationships. In Gergen K.J. & Davis K.E. (Eds.), The Social Construction of the Person. Springer Series in Social Psychology. New York: Springer.

Davis, K., & Todd, M. (1982). Friendship and love relationships. In K. Davis and T. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 2, (pp. 79-119). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Hegi, K., & Bergner, R. (2010). What is love? An empirically-based essentialist account. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 27, 620-636.

Holmes, J.R. (1992). The status of persons or who was that metaphor. 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. 15-35). 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.

Kantor, C. (2013). We’re off to see the wizard: Politics, charisma, and community change. In K.E. Davis, R.M. Bergner, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.10, (pp. 129-148). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Ossorio, P. G. (1982). Status maxims (LRI Report No. 30B). Boulder, CO.

Ossorio, P., & Sternberg, B. (1997). Status management: A theory of punishment and rehabilitation. In P. Ossorio (Ed.), The collected works of Peter G. Ossorio, Vol. 2. Essays on clinical topics, (pp. 195-214). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press. (Originally published as LRI Report #25. Boulder, CO: Linguistic Research Institute.)

Ossorio, P.G. (1966/1995). Persons. The Collected Works of Peter G.
Ossorio (Vol. I).
Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press. (Original work published 1966 as LRI Report No. 3. Los Angeles, CA & Boulder, CO: Linguistic Research Institute.)

Ossorio, P.G. (1998). What there is and how things are. In H.J. Jeffrey and R.M. Bergner, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 7 (pp. 7-32). 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.

Ossorio, P.G. (1982/1998/2012). Place. Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press. (Original work published 1982 as LRI Report No. 30a. Boulder, CO: Linguistic Research Institute.)

Plotkin, W., & Schwartz, W. (1982). A conceptualization of hypnosis: I. Exploring the place of appraisal and anomaly in behavior and experience. In K. Davis and T. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 2, (pp. 139-194). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Plotkin, W., & Schwartz, W. (1985). A conceptualization of hypnosis: II. Hypnotic induction procedures and manifestations of the hypnotic state

Putman, A.O. (1998). Being, becoming and Belonging. In H.J. Jeffrey and R.M. Bergner, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 7, (pp. 127-160). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Putman, A.O. (2010). Ordinary magic: What Descriptive Psychology is, and why it matters. In K. E. Davis, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.9, (pp. 9-39). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Putman A.O. (2013). At a glance and out of nowhere: How ordinary people create the real world. In K.E. Davis, R.M. Bergner, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.10 (pp. 19-36). 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. (1985). Worlds and world reconstruction. In K. Davis and T. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 4, (pp. 17-52). Greenwich, CT: JAI 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. (1998). Kurosawa’s relativity. In H.J. Jeffrey and R.M. Bergner, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology, Vol. 7, (pp. 107-125). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Roberts, M.K. (2006). Ancient Companions. In K. E. Davis, & R. M Bergner (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 8, (pp. 248-265). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Roberts, M.K. (2010). An indeterminate and expansive world. In K. E. Davis, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.9, (pp. 231-256). 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.

Roberts, M.K. (2010). Worlds of Uncertain Status. In K. E. Davis, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.9, (pp. 287-319). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Roberts, M.K. (2013). Knowing the world. In K.E. Davis, R.M. Bergner, F. Lubuguin, & W. Schwartz, (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol.10, (pp. 37-54). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.

Schwartz, W. (1982). The problem of other possible persons: Dolphins, primates, and aliens. In K. Davis and T. Mitchell (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 2, (pp. 139-194). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.

Schwartz, W. (2008). Presentations of self and the status dynamics of psychotherapy and supervision. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 62, 51-65.

Schwartz, W.R. (2014). What Is A Person And How Can We Be Sure? A Paradigm Case Formulation. Journal of Evolution and Technology, 24(3), 27-34.

Ward, C., Bergner, R., & Kahn, J. (2003). Why do men distance? Factors predictive of male avoidance of intimate conflict. Family Therapy, 30, 1-9.

Zeiger, P.H., & Zeiger, C.A. (2006). Where does my freedom lie?. In K. E. Davis, & R. M Bergner (Eds.), Advances in Descriptive Psychology: Vol. 8, (pp. 82-98). Ann Arbor, MI: Descriptive Psychology Press.