Allen Bergin

Allen Eric Bergin
Born(1934-08-04)August 4, 1934
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
DiedFebruary 15, 2024(2024-02-15) (aged 89)
EducationMassachusetts Institute of Technology, Reed College, Brigham Young University BS/MS, Stanford University PhD, University of Wisconsin Postdoctoral Fellow
Scientific career
FieldsClinical psychology, Psychotherapy Research, Religion and Mental Health
InstitutionsTeachers College, Columbia University, 1961-1972; Brigham Young University, 1972-1999

Allen Eric Bergin[1] (August 4, 1934 – February 15, 2024) was an American clinical psychologist known for his research on psychotherapy outcomes and on integrating psychotherapy and religion. His 1980 article on theistic values[2] was groundbreaking in the field and elicited over 1,000 responses and requests for reprints,[3] and including those from Carl Rogers and Albert Bandura. Bergin is also noted for his interchanges with probabilistic atheist Albert Ellis.

Bergin was raised in a family that did not actively attend any religious services. He went to high school in Spokane, Washington, and began college at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then transferred to Reed College. The school had four Latter-day Saints in its student body that year, one of whom was Bergin's roommate and another of whom, Marian Shafer, he began dating. The following year Shafer decided to transfer to Brigham Young University (BYU), and Bergin decided to do the same. Through interactions with BYU professor and Reed alumnus Robert K. Thomas, Bergin learned more about Mormonism and in March 1955 was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) by Thomas. After this, Bergin married Marian Shafer. He attributes much of his life success and satisfaction to Marian's transcendent influence.

Bergin eventually earned a master's degree from BYU and then a Ph.D. from Stanford University under Albert Bandura, followed by post-doctoral research at the University of Wisconsin under Carl Rogers. He then became a professor in the clinical psychology program at Teachers College, Columbia University. While on the Columbia faculty, Bergin lived in New Jersey and served as a bishop for the LDS church and later as a counselor in the Eastern States Mission Presidency. It was also while at Columbia that Bergin co-edited the Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change with Sol Garfield; the book was named a social science citation classic.[4]

In 1972 Bergin joined the faculty of BYU in part as a result of the encouragement of Thomas. During his years there, he also served in LDS Church positions as a Bishop, a Stake President, and member of the Church-wide Sunday School General Board. He and his wife, Marian, later served a Church Education Mission at the Lajolla, CA. Institute of Religion for students at the University of California-San Diego.

Bergin served as president of the Society for Psychotherapy Research in 1974–75. He also served as president of the Association of Mormon Counselors and Psychotherapists in 1980. He received the "Distinguished Professional Contribution to Knowledge Award" from the American Psychological Association in 1989, the "Oskar Pfister Award in Religion and Mental Health" from the American Psychiatric Association in 1998, and the "William James Award in the Psychology of Religion" from Division 36 of the American Psychological Association in 1990. He has acknowledged the significant influence of colleagues who have collaborated with him, particularly Sol Garfield, Hans Strupp, Michael Lambert, and Scott Richards.

Eric Swedin wrote, "The American Psychological Association awarded him the prestigious Distinguished Professional Contributions to Knowledge award in 1989, citing him as a 'leading expert in psychotherapy research' and for challenging 'psychological orthodoxy to emphasize the importance of values and religion in therapy.'" [5]

Bergin also has a special place in the history of psychologists and researchers who were members of the LDS Church, who traditionally work hard to harmonize scholarship and religion and to reconcile any differences between the truths discovered in science with the truths they believe to be revealed by God.[6][7]

Allen and Marian Bergin were the parents of nine children, and had 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.[4] He died at home on February 15, 2024, at the age of 89.[8]

  1. ^ Hinshaw, Creede. "CREEDE HINSHAW: Some rare good news in a time of bad news". Albany Herald. Retrieved 2020-09-12.
  2. ^ Bergin, A. E. (1980). Psychotherapy and religious values. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 95-105
  3. ^ Slife, B.D. & Whoolery, M. (2003). Understanding disciplinary significance: The story of Allen Bergin's 1980 article on values. In R. Sternberg (Ed.) The anatomy of impact: What has made the great works of psychology great? Washington, D.C.: Ch.10 by B. Slife & M. Whoolery. American Psychological Association.
  4. ^ a b Ken Shelton, "Allen Bergin: 'The Gospel is a Continuing Revolution against the Standards of the World'", Ensign, September 1983, p. 34.
  5. ^ American Psychological Association (1990). Allen E. Bergin: Citation - Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Knowledge. American Psychologist, 45(4), 474. As cited in Swedin, E. G. (2003). Book Review: Eternal Values and Personal Growth: A Guide on Your Journey to Spiritual, Emotional, and Social Wellness, by Allen E Bergin. AMCAP Journal, 28(1), 41.
  6. ^ Swedin, E. G. (2003). Book Review: Eternal Values and Personal Growth: A Guide on Your Journey to Spiritual, Emotional, and Social Wellness, by Allen E Bergin. AMCAP Journal, 28(1), 41
  7. ^ Ezra Taft Benson, “Your Charge: To Increase in Wisdom and Favor with God and Man,” New Era, September 1979, p. 40.
  8. ^ "Allen E. Bergin". Walker Sanderson Funeral Home & Crematory. Retrieved 16 November 2024.