Douglas D. Perkins

Douglas D. Perkins, Ph.D., community, environmental & applied social psychologist

Founding Director, Center for Community Studies; Coordinator, International Communities Work Group

Founding Director/Core Faculty, PhD Program in Community Research & Action

Core Faculty, M.Ed. Program in Community Development & Action

Associate Professor, Department of Human & Organizational Development;_ Official Website

Box 90, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203

Office: 107 Mayborn; Phone: (615) 322-7213, Fax: (615) 322-1769; Email

B.A., Swarthmore College, Psychology; M.A., Ph.D., New York University, Community Psychology (What is Community Psych?)

Research Interests

Dr. Perkins’ research focuses on citizen participation, empowerment, and social and environmental change through grassroots community organizing and development and the use of social research in public policy making. The problems his research, teaching, and consultation have addressed include neighborhood revitalization, housing, crime and delinquency, fear of crime, and social and physical disorder in the urban residential environment. He studies and consults with community voluntary associations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies responding to such problems._ His conceptual orientation stresses ecological systems frameworks and multiple levels of analysis (individuals, families, organizations, communities). His populations of interest include neighborhood residents and leaders, the disenfranchised, low-income, minorities, and at risk youths.

Dr. Perkins taught Criminal Justice at Temple University (1986-89), Environment & Behavior and Family & Consumer Studies at the University of Utah (1989-2000), and was the first Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Human and Organizational Development at Peabody College, Vanderbilt (2000-2003). He is a Fellow of the Society for Community Research & Action and has been SCRA liaison to the Community Development Society, the Environmental Design Research Association, and the Urban Affairs Association.

He founded and directed the interdisciplinary Center for Community Studies (CCS) at Vanderbilt from 2004-2008, now coordinates its International Communities Work Group, and is a member of the Healthy Communities, Organizational Change, Urban Neighborhoods, and Religion, Spirituality, and Community Work Groups._ The CCS is affiliated with the Community Action-Research Centers network of the Society for Community Research & Action._ Many CCS researchers and visitors have connected with others around the world, particularly in studying issues related to the development and use of organized power in community [see International Research Network Proposal]._ The new Center was launched at the Interdisciplinary Community Research Working Conference, cosponsored by Vanderbilt University and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, held May 21-23, 2004, at Peabody College’s Wyatt Center, and published as a special issue of the American Journal of Community Psychology on Community-based Interdisciplinary Research.

Perkins is also core faculty in, and a former Coordinator of, Vanderbilt University’s Interdisciplinary Program in Social Psychology, which is currently inactive.

Current/Recent Projects

Nashville Urban Partnership Academic Center of Excellence (NUPACE) for Youth Violence Prevention Research | Organizational Networks Project

VICTR (CTSA) Community Engaged Research Program (CERP)

Collaborations with Italian community/developmental psychologists at the Universit_ degli Studi di Padova_ Facolta di Psicologi_ and Laboratorio LINK

The development of community studies and local democratic institutions & processes in China | 2007 CCS Field School in Guangxi, China

Hidden Costs of Homelessness in Nashville | Mayor's 2004 Task Force on Homelessness | Strategic Framework to End Chronic Homelessness in Nashville | News Article

New SPECs: Changing Paradigms in Human Services (Co-PI) | Project Structure and Overview of Work Plan

Learning Communities & Community Organizations, funded by the Learning Sciences Institute

Nashville Immigrant Community Assessment (CoPI)

South Nashville Community Needs & Assets Assessment
_
Past Major Research Projects:

Neighborhood Revitalization & Disorder: An Intervention Evaluation (1997-2000; funded by National Institute of Justice; PI: Barbara Brown; Co-PI: Doug Perkins)

Neighborhood Assessment: West Salt Lake City Revitalization Initiative (1993-95) Part of Demonstration Grant from U.S. Dept. Housing & Urban Development to Salt Lake City Dept. Community & Economic Development (PI)

Mental Health: Adaptive Coping with Urban Crime & Fear (1986-88; funded by the National Institute of Mental Health; PI: Ralph Taylor; Director: Doug Perkins)

Block Boosters: The Role of Block Associations in Community Development & Crime Prevention (1984-86; funded by Ford Foundation; PIs: David Chavis, Paul Florin, Richard Rich, Abe Wandersman) + Participation and the social and physical environment of residential blocks: Crime and community context (1985-86; funded by National Institute of Justice; PI: Douglas Perkins) + Block Boosters, Revisited (1992 follow-up study; PI: Perkins)

Selected Publications (full text or additional resources as indicated; VITA: DOUGLAS D. PERKINS):

Perkins, D.D. (in press). Empowerment. In R.A. Couto (Ed.), Political and Civic Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Perkins, D.D. (in press). Commentary on “Community psychology’s voyage into complexity: On liberation, change and politics.” In G. Nelson & I. Prilleltensky (Eds.), Community Psychology: In Pursuit of Liberation and Well-Being (2^nd edition). Hampshire, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.

Vieno, A., Nation, M., Perkins, D.D., Pastore, M. & Santinello, M. (in press). Social capital, safety concerns, parenting and early adolescents’ antisocial behavior. Journal of Community Psychology.

Xu, Q., Perkins, D.D., Chow, J.C. (in press). Sense of Community, Neighboring, and Social Capital as Predictors of Local Political Participation in China. American Journal of Community Psychology.

Perkins, D.D. (in press). The death of community psychology (& the development of community research & action) in the United States: Issues of theoretical, methodological, & practical diversity. First International Conference on Community Psychology.

Perkins, D.D., Larsen, C., & Brown, B.B. (2009). Mapping urban revitalization: Using GIS spatial analysis to evaluate a new housing policy. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, 37(1), 48-65. [special issue on GIS applications in community psychology]

Santinello, M., Martini, E.R., & Perkins, D.D. (in press). Community psychology in Italy: Introduction and prospects. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community.

Dallago, L., Cristini, F., Perkins, D.D., Nation, M., & Santinello, M. (in press). The adolescents, life Context & School Project: Youth voice and civic participation. Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community [special issue on community psychology in Italy]

Perkins, D. D. (2009). International community psychology: Development and challenges. American Journal of Community Psychology, 44, 76-79.

Dallago, L., Perkins, D. D., Santinello, M., Boyce, W., Molcho, M., & Morgan, A. (2009). Adolescent place attachment, social capital, & perceived safety: A comparison of 13 countries. American Journal of Community Psychology, 44, 148-160.

Bess, K.D., Prilleltensky, I., Perkins, D.D., & Collins, L. (in press). Participation for Community Well-Being in Health and Human Services: Between Tokenism and Meaningful Political Engagement. American Journal of Community Psychology.

Robinson, J., & Perkins, D.D. (2009). Social development needs assessment in China: Lessons from an international collaborative field school in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. China Journal of Social Work, 2(1), 34-51.

Christens, B., & Perkins, D.D. (2008). Transdisciplinary, multilevel action research to enhance ecological and psycho-political validity. Journal of Community Psychology, 36, 214-231.

Nation, M., Vieno, A., Perkins, D.D., & Santinello, M. (2008). Bullying in school and adolescent sense of empowerment: An analysis of relationships with parents, friends, and teachers. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 18, 211-232.

Perkins, D.D., Bess, K., Cooper, D.G., Jones, D. Armstead, T., & Speer, P.W. (2007). Community organizational learning: Case studies illustrating a three-dimensional model of levels and orders of change. Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 307-332.

Dupere, V., & Perkins, D.D. (2007). Block types and mental health: An ecological study of local environmental stress and coping. American Journal of Community Psychology, 39, 107-119.

Long, D. A. & Perkins, D. D. (2007). Community social and place predictors of sense of community: A multilevel and longitudinal analysis. Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 563-581.

Voorhees, C.C.W., Vick, J., & Perkins, D.D. (2007). “Came hell and high water:” The intersection of Hurricane Katrina, the news media, and poverty. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 17, 415-429.

Vieno, A., Santinello, M., Pastore, M., & Perkins, D.D. (2007). Social support, sense of community in school, and self-efficacy as resources during early adolescence: An integrative, model. American Journal of Community Psychology, 39, 177-190.

Vieno, A., Nation, M., Perkins, D.D., & Santinello, M. (2007). Civic participation and the development of adolescent behavior problems. Journal of Community Psychology, 35, 761-777.

Hanlin, C. E., Bess, K., Conway, P., Evans, S. D., McCown, D., Prilleltensky, I., & Perkins, D. D. (2007). Community psychology [chapter 28]. In C. Willig & W. S. Rogers (Eds.), The Handbook of Qualitative Methods in Psychology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Maton, K., Perkins, D.D., & Saegert, S. (2006). Community psychology at the crossroads: Prospects for interdisciplinary theory, research and action. American Journal of Community Psychology, 38(1-2), 9-21..

Maton, K., Perkins, D.D., Altman, D.G., Gutierrez, L., Kelly, J.G., Rappaport, J., & Saegert, S. (2006). Community-based interdisciplinary research: Introduction to the special issue. American Journal of Community Psychology, 38(1-2), 1-7.

Manzo, L.C., & Perkins, D.D. (2006). Neighborhoods as common ground: The importance of place attachment to community participation and development. Journal of Planning Literature, 20, 335-350. (one of the top 10 most-read (downloaded) articles in JPL history)

Levine,M., Perkins, D.D., & Perkins, D.V. (2005). Principles of community psychology: Perspectives and Applications (3^rd Edition). New York: Oxford University Press.

Vieno, A., Perkins, D.D., Smith, T.M., & Santinello, M. (2005). Democratic school climate and sense of community in school: A multilevel analysis. American Journal of Community Psychology, 36, 327-341.

Perkins, D.D., Crim, B., Silberman, P. & Brown, B.B. (2004). Community development as a response to community-level adversity: Ecological theory and research and strengths-based policy. In K.I. Maton, C.J. Schellenbach, B.J. Leadbeater & A.L. Solarz (Eds.), Investing in children, youth, families and communities: Strengths-based research and policy (pp. 321-340). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. _[Links to Community Development Resources on the Internet]

Brown, B.B., Perkins, D.D. & Brown, G. (2004). Crime, new housing, and housing incivilities in a first ring suburb: Multilevel relationships across time. Housing Policy Debate, 15(2), 301-345.

Brown, B.B., Perkins, D. D., & Brown, G. (2004). Incivilities, place attachment and crime: Block and individual effects. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 24, 359-371.

Brown, G., Brown, B.B., & Perkins, D.D. (2004). New housing as neighborhood revitalization: Place attachment and confidence among residents. Environment and Behavior, 36, 749-775.

Brown, B.B., Perkins, D. D., & Brown, G. (2003). Place attachment in a revitalizing neighborhood: Individual and block levels of analysis. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23, 259-271.

Long, D.A., & Perkins, D.D. (2003). Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Sense of Community Index and Development of a Brief SCI. Journal of Community Psychology, 31, 279-296.

Speer, P.W., & Perkins, D.D. (2003). Community organizations, agencies and groups:_ Significance for children and teens. In J.W. Guthrie (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Education (2nd Ed.)(pp. 431-441)._ New York: Macmillan.

Robinson, J.B., Lawton, B.A., Taylor, R.B., & Perkins, D.D. (2003). Multilevel longitudinal impacts of incivilities: Fear of crime, expected safety, and block satisfaction. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 19(3), 237-274.

Perkins, D.D., Hughey, J., & Speer, P.W. (2002). Community psychology perspectives on social capital theory and community development practice. Journal of the Community Development Society, 33(1), 33-52.

Perkins, D.D., & Long, D.A. (2002). Neighborhood sense of community and social capital: A multi-level analysis. In A. Fisher, C. Sonn, & B. Bishop (Eds.), Psychological sense of community: Research, applications, and implications (pp. 291-318). New York: Plenum.

Perkins, D.D. (2002). Community psychology, planning and learning: An applied social ecology approach to sustainable development. In I. Falk (Ed.), Learning to manage change: Developing regional communities for a local-global millennium (pp. 37-44). Adelaide: NCVER.

Nation, M., Wandersman, A., & Perkins, D.D. (2002). Promoting healthy communities through community development. In L. Jason & D. Glenwick (Eds.), Innovative strategies for preventing psychological problems (pp. 324-344). New York: Springer.

Webster, L. & Perkins, D.D. (2001)._ Redressing structural violence against children: Empowerment-based interventions and research. In D.J. Christie, R.V. Wagner & D.D. Winter (Eds.), Peace, conflict, and violence: Peace psychology for the 21^st century (pp. 330-340). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Perkins, D.D. (2000). Research, teaching, and service in applied, multidisciplinary academic programs and in community organizations. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 19(2), 121-128. (also published in O'Donnell, C.R., & Ferrari, J.R. (Eds.)(2000). Employment in community psychology: The diversity of opportunity. New York: Haworth Press.)

Perkins, D.D., Brown, B.B., & Taylor, R.B. (1996). The ecology of empowerment: Predicting participation in community organizations. Journal of Social Issues, 52, 85-110. (issue on Psychology of Grassroots Organizing)

Perkins, D.D., & Taylor, R.B. (1996). Ecological assessments of community disorder: Their relationship to fear of crime and theoretical implications. American Journal of Community Psychology, 24, 63-107. (to be reprinted by Plenum in a volume of the most important articles of the first 25 years of AJCP)

Taylor, R.B., Koons, B.A., Kurtz, E.M., Greene, J.R., & Perkins, D.D. (1995). Street blocks with more nonresidential land use have more physical deterioration: Evidence from Baltimore and Philadelphia. Urban Affairs Review, 31, 120-136.

Perkins, D.D. (1995). Speaking truth to power: Empowerment ideology as social intervention and policy. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23, 765-794.

Perkins, D.D., & Zimmerman, M.A. (1995). Empowerment theory, research, and application. American Journal of Community Psychology, 23, 569-579.

Perkins, D.D., Wandersman, A., Rich, R.C., & Taylor, R.B. (1993). The physical environment of street crime: Defensible space, territoriality and incivilities. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 13, 29-49.

Perkins, D.D., Meeks, J.W., & Taylor, R.B. (1992). The physical environment of street blocks and resident perceptions of crime and disorder: Implications for theory and measurement. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 12, 21-34.

Brown, B.B., & Perkins, D.D. (1992). Disruptions in place attachment. In I. Altman and S. Low (Eds.), Place attachment (pp. 279-304). Volume 12 in the series "Human behavior and the environment: Advances in theory and research." New York: Plenum.

Perkins, D.D., Florin, P., Rich, R.C., Wandersman, A. & Chavis, D.M. (1990). Participation and the social and physical environment of residential blocks: Crime and community context. American Journal of Community Psychology, 18, 83-115.

Perkins, D.D., & Wandersman, A. (1990). "You'll have to work to overcome our suspicions:" Benefits and pitfalls of research with community organizations. Social Policy, 21 (1), 32-41.

Perkins, D.D. (1988). The use of social science in public interest litigation: A role for community psychologists. American Journal of Community Psychology (Special Issue: Law and Community Psychology), 16, 465-485.

Teaching Philosophy and Methods

Dr. Perkins' teaching philosophy and methods (class size permitting) emphasize a participatory seminar format, collegial atmosphere, and relevant and experiential learning. He was awarded the Borchard Service-Learning Faculty Fellowship at the University of Utah and encourages students to go off campus and focus on the real world. His students look at the community settings they live and work in and identify real-life social or environmental issues affecting them and then study and try to solve them systematically.

Courses developed and taught (VU=Vanderbilt University; UU=University of Utah; TU=Temple University; NYU=New York University; syllabi available):

Global Dimensions of Community Development (VU)

Community Development and Urban Policy (VU)

Community Psychology (VU, UU, NYU)

Graduate Seminar in Community Psychology (VU)

Advanced Graduate Seminar in Psychology and Environmental Change (VU)

Graduate Thesis Development Seminar (VU, UU)

Social Research Methods/Systematic Inquiry (VU, UU, TU)

Masters Proseminar in Leadership & Organization and Community Development (VU)

Community Environments (UU)

Home & Community Environments (UU)

Community and Environmental Change (UU)