We Stand on the Shoulders of Giants Remembering Irving B. Weiner

Abstract

With the recent passing of Irving B. Weiner, the Society for Personality Assessment has lost one of its foundational members, an inspirational leader, and a scholar of broad repute, who was also a mentor and friend to many of us. Among his countless SPA contributions and awards, Irving Weiner was a Life Fellow, twice SPA President, Editor of the Journal for Personality Assessment and the 1983 recipient of the Bruno Klopfer Award, SPA’s highest honor.

The symposium proposes to pay tribute to Irving Weiner and his indelible mark on psychological assessment, the Rorschach, forensic assessment, organizational leadership, psychotherapy, and international teaching. Each of the four presenters will concentrate on a specific aspect of Irv’s contributions, sharing personal reflections on his importance to the presenter and others. James Kleiger will focus on his contributions to personality assessment and psychopathology, especially his fundamental contributions to schizophrenia and thought disorder. Marvin Acklin will emphasize Irv’s contributions to forensic assessment. Ety Berant will share his Irv’s importance to Israeli and other international personality assessors. Barton Evans will discuss Irv’s contributions to psychodynamic psychotherapy and organizational leadership and will serve as Discussant, encouraging those in attendance at this symposium to also share their personal reminiscences.

Chair

F. Barton Evans | Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (ret),East Tennessee State University