Erik Mansager | Webster University (original) (raw)

Papers by Erik Mansager

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2021

The authors share the context of the depth-psychotherapeutic approach of Alfred Adler. Then, resp... more The authors share the context of the depth-psychotherapeutic approach of Alfred Adler. Then, responding to the growth of interpersonal approaches in psycho analytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy, the authors present vignettes of Adlerian psychotherapy to demonstrate its historical and companionable approach to intersubjectivity and relational elements in the larger world of psychotherapy. Publishing in an Adlerian journal rather than one of psychodynamic psychotherapy offers members of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology a taste of Adler's expanded potential in the therapeutic setting.

Springer eBooks, 2022

This article embeds the concept of spirituality within lived human experience, as a holistic rath... more This article embeds the concept of spirituality within lived human experience, as a holistic rather than other-worldly phenomenon. It starts with a review of the history of the word “spiritual” that gave birth to the concept of “spirituality.” The development of words and concepts are traced within their specifically Christian context and then viewed to see how they were experienced and explored as independent of this original religious mooring. Spirituality is then seen as an aspect of world religions before investigating the notion that it can be considered, in part, the substance of the human capacity for making meaning. As a result, it is described both as the transformative experience the word was originally intended to convey and as an academic discipline whose aim is to study such experiences. The examples of academic studies were selected to illuminate the variety of fundamental human activities that comprise spirituality as defined below.

• Continual publications since 1986 include books, monographs, training manuals, book chapters, r... more • Continual publications since 1986 include books, monographs, training manuals, book chapters, refereed journal articles, book reviews, popular news articles, and articles currently under review • Consulting editor for professional journals including guest-editorship of professional psychology journal special issues EDUCATION

Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Dec 7, 2017

In this article, the authors revisit the professional relationship, mutual influence, and endurin... more In this article, the authors revisit the professional relationship, mutual influence, and enduring legacy of two major inspirations on the humanistic psychotherapy movement, Alfred Adler and Abraham Maslow. Starting with their meeting and early relationship and then looking at the characteristic constructs of each man's theory, the authors expose the basis for a therapeutic collaboration between the two in a current psychotherapy. As both theoreticians held creativity as vital to the well-being of the individual, the final section of the article illustrates the importance of going beyond theoretical extrapolation and applying creativity within the therapeutic setting.

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2002

Religion and spirituality have long played important roles in the lives of couples and families w... more Religion and spirituality have long played important roles in the lives of couples and families within North American society. Gallup surveys repeatedly verify the relevance of religion in the lives of American men and women, noting that more than two-thirds identified religion as a significant part of their lives; 94% believe in God or a higher power (Gallup, 1993). In reviewing half a century of US surveys, Gallup concluded that religious beliefs of the country could be considered quite stable inasmuch as these basic beliefs and practices today differ little from the levels recorded 50 years ago (Gallup, 1995). Sirch-Stasko (1996) notes that religion and spirituality are recognized as integral parts of human lives. He believes that this warrants greater exploration of the role this dynamic plays in facilitating and maintaining mental health. The Transformative Experience Questionnaire (TEQ) provides an opportunity for couples to explore the role of spirituality in their own relationship. It was designed to explore the individual pathways of theists, atheists, and nontheist a alike.

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2015

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2014

This article reports on information gathered in 2013 from available Classical Adlerian Depth Psyc... more This article reports on information gathered in 2013 from available Classical Adlerian Depth Psychotherapists worldwide. After a summary of what is involved in the certification training, simple data from the questionnaire are shared.

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2014

Editorial introduction to the special issue of The Journal of Individual Psychology on classical ... more Editorial introduction to the special issue of The Journal of Individual Psychology on classical Adlerian depth psychotherapy. Overview of the 8 articles in the issue.

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2014

Leo Gold, an innovative therapist best known for his therapeutic dream work, died on July 8, 2011... more Leo Gold, an innovative therapist best known for his therapeutic dream work, died on July 8, 2011. His long and productive life exemplified Adler&#39;s concept of creative power—something Leo employed all his life. It was evident early in his life—he overcame congenital talipes equinovarus (clubfoot) to become an exceptional ballroom dancer—and he continued in his publications and widely popular workshops late into his rich and busy life.

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2014

The authors demonstrate how a thorough intake procedure can prepare the therapist for effective t... more The authors demonstrate how a thorough intake procedure can prepare the therapist for effective therapy. They apply the Classical Adlerian family diagnostic process in their conjoint work with a client family. Case examples are used to illustrate the components: demonstrating its context, providing session content, and sharing some of the initial questioning. The article concludes with a case assessment featuring lifestyle interactions and a tentative treatment plan.

The Family Journal, Apr 1, 2002

European Journal of Criminology, Sep 14, 2019

We suggest that Bernard, Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck routinely applied Alfred Adler's general psyc... more We suggest that Bernard, Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck routinely applied Alfred Adler's general psychological concepts to specific instances of criminological theory without proper attribution. We offer several levels of support: (1) we contrast the Freudian terminology within Bernard Glueck's early writings and Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck's influential book Unraveling Juvenile Delinquency (1950) with the Adlerian constructs of their respective criminological works; (2) we describe the enduring similarity between life-course theory of crime and Adler's original theory; and (3) we speculate as to how this apparent but non-attributed Adlerian influence occurred. Overall, the article exposes a circumstantial evidence of neglect in the criminology literature: Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck's silence on Adler's contribution and their own ostracization by mainstream criminology. We conclude that acknowledgment of the Gluecks' contribution and their debt to Adler could continue to reinvigorate criminology today.

Counseling and values, 2004

The authors offer a course correction for understanding the term holism as used in spiritually or... more The authors offer a course correction for understanding the term holism as used in spiritually oriented psychotherapy literature. This is done to allow the relationship between psychotherapy and spirituality to expand beyond limited dualistic conceptualizations. They first address numerous sources from which spiritually oriented psychotherapy arose and then explore the ill‐defined relationship between the psychological and the spiritual dimensions of human existence. Next, holism is distinguished from 2 common forms of dualistic “elementism” that are frequently misrepresented as holism. The authors conclude by presenting a holistic conceptualization of the relationship between the dimensions of psychotherapy and spirituality.

By combining current: career oriented thought and Adlerian theory, this study highlights the Cath... more By combining current: career oriented thought and Adlerian theory, this study highlights the Catholic priest hood by means of constructs which lend themselves to the delicate issue of religious response.. Catholic priests in a single diocese were tested to determine if a particular personality type of life style was predominant. The study then explored the relationship between priests’ life styles and their level of selfactualization. The study did not find significant correlations between individual self-actualization scores and the life style categories used. The priests were, however, found by professional judges, to be categorized primarily among the life style entitled "Need to be right, superior, or good." Three levels of self-actualization among the priests were determined and compared according to various criteria. Distinguishable profiles resulted among the three groups in several of the areas. Besides the primary comparison of priests' life styles and level ...

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2022

Inspired by the published celebration in spring 2020 of Adler’s 150th birthday in volume 76 of th... more Inspired by the published celebration in spring 2020 of Adler’s 150th birthday in volume 76 of this journal, your current guest editors wanted to see whether, outside of scholarly articles, the depth and diversity of our community might also be shared. We asked members to contribute their Adlerian stories—what has moved them most deeply about Adler’s writings, philosophy, application, and personal healing. The wide-ranging experiences of the various authors in this issue called to mind William James’s The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902/2014).

Psychopathology, 2022

This entry provides an overview of the field of psychopathologyincluding the theoretical and clin... more This entry provides an overview of the field of psychopathologyincluding the theoretical and clinical study of an individual's abnormal psychological thoughts, feelings, and behaviors (symptoms) as well as the personal expression of such manifestations. The first section is a general discussion of the field of study, outlining the ongoing concerns for the limits of nomothetic vs expressive, idiographic psychopathologies. A contemporary history of the field is sketched revealing these conflicting approaches and the place of objectivity, subjectivity, and their resolution into simultaneous presence. Then the main theoretical constructs in this history which have risen to prominence are put forward as the structure of current psychopathology. The entry concludes by arguing that the relevant constructs are found in both a foundational manner in Alfred Adler's Individual Psychology and therein they play a synthesizing function in the application of psychotherapy today.

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2021

Springer eBooks, 2022

Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Dec 7, 2017

PsycTESTS Dataset, 2002

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2015

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2014

The Family Journal, Apr 1, 2002

European Journal of Criminology, Sep 14, 2019

Counseling and values, 2004

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2022

Psychopathology, 2022

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2009

Review of a book in which three experts intertwine their experiences and knowledge of the physica... more Review of a book in which three experts intertwine their experiences and knowledge of the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of health for a result greater than the sum of the parts. Like a "human quilt", each contributes to a healthy, satisfying life.

Adlerian Year Book: UK Adlerian Society and Institute for Individual Psychology, 2017

The Journal of Individual Psychology, 2015

Alfred Adler's collected clinical works were made available to English speaking therapists long a... more Alfred Adler's collected clinical works were made available to English speaking therapists long after those of Freud and Jung. This review offers brief overviews of each volume and the clinical import of the material found within.

UK Adlerian Year Book, 2010

This review covers the second in a series of books jam-packed with Adlerian tools and techniques ... more This review covers the second in a series of books jam-packed with Adlerian tools and techniques of working with children. Volume I is identical to Volume 11 of the Clollected Clinical Works of Alfred Adler.

UK Adlerian Year Book, 2012

The first full-length publication on the topic of Individual Psychology and religion is an import... more The first full-length publication on the topic of Individual Psychology and religion is an important accomplishment. Dr. Johansen is to be commended for his dedication to the theme, the attempted thoroughness of the topic and for his willingness to put forward a presentation for consideration by clinical professionals as well as by the professional psychology of religion and spirituality community (see Rosen, 2012, this issue).

Dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctorate in Psychology ... more Dissertation presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctorate in Psychology from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences (Afdeling Psychotherapie en dieptepsychologie Centrum Dieptepsychologie)

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CRITIQUE OF HANS KUNG'S REFERENCES TO PSYCHOLOGY, 1998

One cannot jump into the middle of a study without some understanding of the lay of the land. Th... more One cannot jump into the middle of a study without some understanding of the lay of the land. The peculiarity of studying a theologian’s work from the perspective of the psychology of religion calls all the more for a general reconnaissance of the landscape to see where such a study fits and to help determine its level of legitimacy. Thus, this chapter addresses three main issues aimed at providing a basis for studying Küng’s works within the psychology of religion: First, the extent to which the foundations of the psychology of religion allow for analyzing theology; second, what types of approaches are currently being used to study theology within the psychology of religion; and third, precisely what approach is to be applied for circumscribing and analyzing Küng’s work.

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CRITIQUE OF HANS KUNG'S REFERENCES TO PSYCHOLOGY, 1998

The issue of theology as an object of study by psychology—including the relative uniqueness of su... more The issue of theology as an object of study by psychology—including the relative uniqueness of such an approach; the pitfalls to be avoided; and the possible benefits—were explored in the previous chapter. A closer look at Küng’s work within his own academic discipline in now called for. At the same time, the task of the chapter is to demonstrate the compatibility of Küng’s theology with the first of two criteria established to help measure the commensurability of psychology and theology. The first task ahead, then is to inquire about the breadth of Küng’s conception of religion. That is, if the psychology of religion is to accomplish a working interface with theology, a narrow interpretation of its object of study must be avoided. Applying terms such as “orthodox” Christianity to a specific denominational enterprise limits the applicability of theology from the outset.

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CRITIQUE OF HANS KUNG'S REFERENCES TO PSYCHOLOGY, 1998

The task of this chapter is to explore theology as a technical discipline whose understanding of ... more The task of this chapter is to explore theology as a technical discipline whose understanding of religion may be applied within the psychology of religion. Specifically, Küng’s work is to be set within a context in which it can be understood as it intends to be and yet be measured against a scientific standard. Further, this standard itself needs to be clarified in this chapter. In a sentence: the concept of scientific theology is explored in relationship to Küng’s work. It is suggested that the degree to which a theology, and Küng’s work in particular, meet the criteria of science is the degree to which it can be considered commensurable with psychology.

Among the avenues open to examining the relationship between science and theology, the following were considered: an analytic approach which breaks the disciplines of science and theology into their component parts for examination; a philosophical approach which explicates various philosophies of religion and science; a historical approach, whereby the histories and development of each discipline are examined; an examination of current theories of scientific method to see how they apply to theology; and tracking of philosophical roots of philosophy, theology, and science or combinations of them.

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CRITIQUE OF HANS KUNGS' REFERENCES TO PSYCHOLOGY, 1998

This chapter builds on previous stages of the study: a review of the historical conditions exist... more This chapter builds on previous stages of the study: a review of the historical conditions existent between science and religion generally and the more specific interface between Küng and scientific standards. The first section here, reviews Küng’s earliest references to psychology. His interest and knowledge-base in this area is considerable indeed—yet was excluded from the earlier discussion. These writings, from the 1950s and 1960s, are searched for clues about the rise of his interest in psychology. The second section draws together what has been learned thus far about Küng’s references to psychology within the greater context of his theology. This addresses the reasons for his interest, his level of comprehension regarding psychology and his discernment of the place of psychology in relation to religion.

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CRITIQUE OF HANS KUNG'S REFERENCES TO PSYCHOLOGY, 1998

The five interconnected aspects of Küng’s approach to psychology which concluded the last chapte... more The five interconnected aspects of Küng’s approach to psychology which concluded the last chapter, provide a helpful context for understanding his more overt references to psychology. They form something like a bridge from his initial writings to his current work. They are now presupposed throughout the current chapter. But now that the study has advanced to the point of actually examining Küng’s major references to psychology, some comments about the range of the examination are in order. By way of caveat, however, it must be said—as thorough as this examination intends to be, it cannot be exhaustive. The breadth and depth of Küng’s writing has already been sampled. As of this writing Küng is not yet 70 years old and shows no signs of slowing his publication rate. In fact, the world ethics project he has set for himself indicates a number major publications can be expected in the near future.

CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CRITIQUE OF HANS KUNG'S REFERENCES TO PSYCHOLOGY, 1998

A thorough consideration of Küng’s theology would not be complete without illustrating what some ... more A thorough consideration of Küng’s theology would not be complete without illustrating what some of the implications are for the psychology of religion. And, it is undoubtedly noticeable, at the same time a major topic of Küng’s understanding of religion, has not been addressed. Throughout the previous chapter, indeed throughout the research, mention has been made of trust and faith. Küng has been found to speak of their interconnectedness, their differences and distinctions, and at times their dependence on one another. The challenge is to determine a manner in which to explore this rather ubiquitous issue, which he considers the sine qua non of religion—and of theology itself. The first difficulty, however, is locating workable texts. Küng does not address the problematic of trust and its relationship to faith as a psychological issue, per se. While it pervades his work, drawing out specific references for examination and critique, as in the forgoing chapter, is not feasible. Perhaps there is another way. A way that would represent a concrete application of his theology to the psychology of religion, while at the same time elucidate his rudimentary concern. Thus, before summarizing the conclusions of the study in the final section, its implications are explored via a specific consideration of the trust-faith problematic.

consultation in education, administration, cultural diversity, and adult-child relations PUBLICAT... more consultation in education, administration, cultural diversity, and adult-child relations PUBLICATION • Continual publications since 1986 include books, monographs, training manuals, book chapters, refereed journal articles, book reviews, popular news articles, and articles currently under review • Consulting editor for professional journals including guest-editorship of professional psychology journal special issues EDUCATION