Contact: Janet Chappell, Phone (541) 485-2711 or on-line at www.oslc.org.
Eugene, OR – The American Psychological Association (APA) will recognize Eugene researcher and co-founder of the Oregon Social Learning Center, Gerald Patterson, with the Urie Bronfenbrenner Award for Lifetime Contributions to Developmental Psychology at their annual conference August 14-17, 2008 in Boston. The APA is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With more than 148,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.
The Urie Bronfenbrenner Award for Lifetime Contribution to Developmental Psychology in the Service of Science and Society is presented to an individual whose work has, over a lifetime career, contributed to the science of developmental psychology, and to the application of developmental psychology to society. The individual’s contributions may have been made through advocacy, direct service, influencing public policy or education, or through any other routes that enable scientific developmental psychology to better the condition of children and families. Dr. Patterson is receiving this award for more than 30 years of outstanding, cutting edge research, which has informed and influenced policy and practice.
Gerald R. Patterson, Ph.D., co-founder of the Oregon Social Learning Center and retired Senior Scientist, has worked on research projects relevant to both basic science and practical application. His work explores the interactional processes that are set in motion when parent management training is used to treat families, such as coercion that leads to aggressive behavior. He has studied the feedback loops, and what sequences are required for children and families to change. He is also interested in the prevention of the development of antisocial behavior. He is particularly known for his pioneering work on intervention.
He has won a number of awards for his work, including the Distinguished Scientist Award from the American Psychological Association, the Outstanding Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota, an honorary doctorate from the University of Norway in Bergen, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for Research in Aggression, and a Merit award from the National Institute of Mental Health for excellence in research. He has authored or co-authored the following publications: Families, Living with Children, Coercive Family Process, Families with Aggressive Children,Parents and Adolescents, Antisocial Boys, and Antisocial Behavior.
For more information about Gerald Patterson, please contact Janet Chappell at the Oregon Social Learning Center (541-485-2711) or on-line at www.oslc.or. A photo is available on request.
Additional information about the American Psychological Association is available on-line at www.apa.org.