Journal of Human Behavior in The Social Environment 

About: Journal of Human Behavior in The Social Environment is an academic journal published by Haworth Press. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Social work & Mental health. It has an ISSN identifier of 1091-1359. Over the lifetime, 1565 publications have been published receiving 21771 citations.

Understanding Poverty: Multiple Social Science Perspectives

Abstract: This Special Issue has its origins in both historical and contemporary attempts to address the complex social problem of poverty in the U.S. It grew out of a doctoral seminar and therefore most of the authors are current or former doctoral students at the School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley. The Fall 2005 seminar began in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that blew the roof off the city of New Orleans and exposed a history of poverty, racism, and corruption. The topic of the seminar was inspired by recent research on the views of staff delivering welfare-to-work services in the counties surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area (Austin, Johnson, Chow, De Marco, & Ketch, in press). When asked to prioritize an array of training topics relevant to their practice, the staff members rated “poverty” high on their list. Poverty is also an important topic in the curriculum for preparing future social workers. However, it is not always clear how and where this topic is addressed. Because of its complexity, it can be addressed throughout the curriculum (e.g., policy, practice, theory, research, diversity, and/ or specialization courses) or nowhere in the curriculum, that is, “everybody’s business becomes nobody’s business.”

Oyate Ptayela: Rebuilding the Lakota Nation Through Addressing Historical Trauma Among Lakota Parents

Abstract: SUMMARY This article presents evidence to suggest that historical trauma has affected Lakota parents and children by changing parenting behavior and placing children at risk for alcohol and other substance abuse. The theoretical explanation of the Lakota historical trauma response is described and used as a framework for the design of a parenting skills curriculum. This intervention focuses on (1) facilitating parental awareness of life span and communal trauma across generations and (2) a re-cathexis or re-attachment to traditional Lakota values. The experimental curriculum intervention was delivered to a group of ten Lakota parents and two Lakota parent facilitators on a Lakota reservation. Qualitative study results revealed that parents experienced the curriculum as effective, particularly the focus on both historical trauma and the reconnection with traditional Lakota mores. The curriculum's emphasis on traditional protective factors for alcohol and other substance abuse prevention for Lakota children...

A Life Beyond Work? Job Demands, Work-Life Balance, and Wellbeing in UK Academics

Abstract: SUMMARY Research findings from several countries suggest that academic work has become comparatively stressful, with potentially serious consequences for the workforce and the quality of higher education. This article reports the findings of a study that examined work demands, work-life balance and wellbeing in UK academic staff. Job demands and levels of psychological distress were high and working during evenings and weekends was commonplace. Most academics surveyed, however, were at least moderately satisfied with their jobs. Work-life balance was generally poor and most respondents wished for more separation between their work and home lives. Academics who reported more work-life conflict and perceived a greater discrepancy between their present and ideal levels of work-life integration tended to be less healthy, less satisfied with their jobs, and more likely to have seriously considered leaving academia. On the whole, academics that perceived more control over their work, more schedule flexibility a...

Student-Teacher Relationships: An Overlooked Factor in School Dropout

Abstract: It has been predicted that the number of students who do not complete a high school education will continue to increase. Of particular concern is the disproportionate number of poor and minority students who fail to complete high school. While the vast majority of the literature on school dropouts focuses on individual and family factors, a body of research has recently begun to examine how school factors contribute to the dropout problem. One of the most overlooked school factors is the quality of the relationship between teachers and students, especially at-risk students and the powerful impact of teacher attitudes and beliefs on student success. This article addresses how schools contribute to students' decisions to drop out of school and stresses the importance of selecting interventions aimed to improve the relationships between school personnel and students. Innovative programs designed to enhance strong student-teacher relationships are highlighted.

From "brute" to "thug:" the demonization and criminalization of unarmed Black male victims in America.

Abstract: The synonymy of Blackness with criminality is not a new phenomenon in America. Documented historical accounts have shown how myths, stereotypes, and racist ideologies led to discriminatory policies and court rulings that fueled racial violence in a post-Reconstruction era and has culminated in the exponential increase of Black male incarceration today. Misconceptions and prejudices manufactured and disseminated through various channels such as the media included references to a "brute" image of Black males. In the 21st century, this negative imagery of Black males has frequently utilized the negative connotation of the terminology "thug." In recent years, law enforcement agencies have unreasonably used deadly force on Black males allegedly considered to be "suspects" or "persons of interest." The exploitation of these often-targeted victims' criminal records, physical appearances, or misperceived attributes has been used to justify their unlawful deaths. Despite the connection between disproportionate criminality and Black masculinity, little research has been done on how unarmed Black male victims, particularly but not exclusively at the hands of law enforcement, have been posthumously criminalized. This paper investigates the historical criminalization of Black males and its connection to contemporary unarmed victims of law enforcement. Action research methodology in the data collection process is utilized to interpret how Black male victims are portrayed by traditional mass media, particularly through the use of language, in ways that marginalize and de-victimize these individuals. This study also aims to elucidate a contemporary understanding of race relations, racism, and the plight of the Black male in a 21-century "post-racial" America.