Avi Besser
Department of Behavioral Sciences
Sapir Academic College
79165 Hof Ashkelon
Israel
Home Page
Phone: (+972) 8-680286
Fax: (+972) 8-661078
My main research interest is in the area of personality and social psychology, specifically, vulnerability factors to depression across the lifespan and interpersonal functioning. My research topics include: vulnerability factors in postpartum depression; attachment and psychological adjustment in children, adolescents, and mothers; perfectionism; self-criticism/dependency and depression and suicidality in older adults.
Consulting Editor, Individual Differences Research (IDR):
http://www.idr-journal.com/board.htm
Editorial Board, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology (JSCP):
http://www.guilford.com/cgi-bin/cartscript.cgi?page=pr/jnsc.htm&sec=editorial_board
 Besser, A. (2004). Self- and best-friend assessments of personality vulnerability and defenses in the prediction of depression. Social Behavior and Personality, 32, 559-594 .
- Besser, A., & Blatt, S. J. (2007).Identity consolidation and internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors in early adolescence. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 24, 126-149.
- Besser, A., Flett, G. L., & Davis, R. (2003). Self-criticism, dependency, silencing the self, and loneliness: A test of a for mediational model. Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 1735-1752.
- Besser, A, & Priel, B. (2005). Interpersonal relatedness and self-definition in late adulthood depression: Personality predispositions, and protective factors. Social Behavior and Personality, 33, 351-382.
- Besser, A., & Priel, B.(2005) The apple does not fall far from the tree: Attachment styles and personality vulnerabilities to depression in three generations of women. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31, 1052-1073.
- Besser, A., & Priel, B. (2003). A multisource approach to self-critical vulnerability to depression: The moderating role of attachment. Journal of Personality, 71, 515-555.
- Besser, A., & Priel, B. (2003). Trait vulnerability and coping strategies in the transition to motherhood. Current Psychology, 22, 59-72.
- Besser, A., Priel, B., Flett, L. G., & Wiznitzer A. (2007). Linear and nonlinear models of vulnerability to depression: Personality and postpartum depression in a high risk population. Individual Differences Research, 5, 1-29.
- Flett, G. L., Besser, A., & Hewitt. (2005). Perfectionism, ego defense styles, and depression: A comparison of self versus informant ratings. Journal of Personality, 73, 1355-1396.
- Flett, L. G., Besser, A., & Davis, R. (2003). Dimensions of perfectionism, unconditional self-acceptance, and depression. Journal of Rational-Emotive and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy, 21, 119-138.
- Priel, B., & Besser, A. (2000). Dependency and self-criticism among first-time mothers: The roles of global and specific support. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 19, 437-450.
- Priel, B., & Besser, A. (1999). Vulnerability to postpartum depressive symptomatology: Dependency, self-criticism and the moderating role of antenatal attachment. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 18, 240-253.
- Sherry, S. B., Hewitt, P. L., Besser, A., Flett, G. L., & Klein, C. (2006). Machiavellianism, trait perfectionism, and perfectionistic self-presentation. Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 829-839.
- Sherry, S. B., Hewitt, P. L., Besser, A., McGee, B. J., & Flett, G. L. (2004). Self-oriented and socially prescribed perfectionism in the Eating Disorder Inventory perfectionism subscale. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 35, 1-11.
- Waniel, A. Besser, A., & Priel, B. (2006). Mother and self-representations: Investigating associations with symptomatic behavior and academic competence in middle childhood. Journal of Personality, 74, 223-266.
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