Avi Besser

     
Institution
Sapir Academic College, Israel

Current Position
Associate Professor of Psychology

Highest Degree
Ph.D. in Psychology from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 1999

Research Interests
Aggression
Applied Social Psychology
Attribution
Close Relationships
Emotion
Health
Interpersonal Processes
Motivation/Goal Setting
Personality
Research Methods/Assessment
Self/Identity
Social Cognition

Courses Taught
Abnormal Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Introduction to Psychology
Personality Theories and Research
Personality Vulnerability and the Interpersonal Cont.

 
Avi Besser
Department of Behavioral Sciences
Sapir Academic College
79165 Hof Ashkelon
Israel

Home Page
Phone: (+972) 8-680286
Fax: (+972) 8-661078


Avi Besser
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.

 Page last edited by profile holder: November 11, 2007
 Visits since December 7, 2003: 21596

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