Thomas J. Dishion, Ph.D.

Affiliated Scientist
Oregon Social Learning Center

Dr. Dishion received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oregon. His interests include understanding the development of antisocial behavior and substance abuse in children and adolescents, as well as designing effective interventions and prevention programs. In particular, he and colleagues have examined the contribution of peer and family dynamics to escalations in adolescent substance use, delinquency, and violence. His intervention research focuses on the effectiveness of family-centered interventions, and the negative effects of aggregating high-risk youth into intervention groups. He and colleagues developed and are testing an adaptive and tailored approach to family intervention, the cornerstone of which is the Family Check-Up. He is currently Director of Research at the Child and Family Center and Professor in the Department of Psychology and School Psychology, both at the University of Oregon. Prior to that, he was a research scientist at Oregon Social Learning Center. He has published over 100 scientific reports on these topics, a book for parents on family management, and two books for professionals working with troubled children and their families.