God’s word, and work in us, reveals that we are created as relational and communal beings; we are created to be in relationships.  We experience relationships within our family of origin, our friend and peer groups, in school and work settings, and in the communities in which we live and serve.  These relationships, while important in themselves, are also critical ways in which we learn how to be in relationship with God; created in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27).

This past spring, Professor Costello and I (both faculty in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences here at CBU) had the opportunity to pursue a project which would work toward building relationships between CBU students and residents in the neighboring Riverside community of Casa Blanca.  Through funding provided by the Council of Independent Colleges, The Legacy Project was born.  The Legacy Project will allow for 20 undergraduate students, majoring in psychology, anthropology, sociology, behavioral science, and film, to conduct field work, by participating in a yearlong internship gathering the oral histories of senior residents living in Casa Blanca.  The oral histories will focus on the cultural history, resiliency, faith, and spirituality of the residents; and the residents’ histories will not only be preserved, but also shared.  In this process, opportunities to develop rich and flourishing relationships across generations and cultures will be numerous.

Students who participate in The Legacy Project will gather the senior residents’ oral histories through a research process called qualitative interviewing.  These interviews will be recorded on video, and crafted into short films featuring each senior participant.  The films will then be shown at an event, hosted at CBU, this spring (2019), and attended by both students and community members.

My own experience conducting fieldwork began as an undergraduate student, participating in an ethnographic study in communities called favelas in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.  These early experiences, interviewing community members, social workers, activists, and political leaders, were critical experiences, not just for the project that I was participating in, but also for developing my interests that lead to my future pursuit of a career in higher education.

Perhaps you have an interest in how your academic pursuits and community interests might align.  If so, I’d encourage you to find out more about The Legacy Project or other research labs and opportunities through the Center for the Study of Human Behavior.

Whether participating in The Legacy Project or another research or field work opportunity, I hope that you have a chance to build relationships with those that you might not have otherwise come into contact with.  The concept of imago dei reminds us that in His image, we can find shared human experiences and ways of being in groups and in places where we might have least expected it.  Or in the words of astronaut Donald Williams “For those who have seen the earth from space, and for the hundreds and perhaps thousands more who will, the experience most certainly changes your perspective.  The things that we share in our word are far more valuable than those which divide us.” (Kelley, 1988). In this era of multifaceted globalization, we are experiencing incredible interconnectedness, never experienced in this way during any other time in history.  Yet, the incredible paradox here may be the great lack of connection that we experience in the midst of being connected to everyone, and everything, everywhere.  Scholar Daniel Groody (2007) describes this as an era of integration and dis-integration.

In an era characterized be global connectedness, yet great dis-integration, we must seek ways to intentionally connect to our neighbors; resisting being connected to everything, yet feeling totally disconnected, even isolated or alone.  Consider how you will, in your personal, professional, and academic pursuits, lean in to your relational self and build bridges today.

—

Groody, D. G. (2008). Globalization, spirituality, and justice: Navigating a path to peace. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books.

Kelley, K. W., & Association of Space Explorers. (1988). The home planet. Reading, Mass: Addison-Wesley.

—

Dr. Jacqueline N. Gustafson

Dean

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences

The weekend of August 8-12, thousands of psychologists converged on the Moscone Center in San Francisco. We crowded the airports, hotels and the downtown restaurants. Poster tubes hung on the shoulders of what seemed like every other person passed by. (Fortunately, I’d used Spoonflower.com to print my FABRIC poster, so I was feeling pretty breezy walking around without that worry!) But, it did feel kind of strange knowing that every other person I walked by was likely a psychologist of some sort (health psychologist, neuropsychologist, developmental psychologist, clinical psychologist…you get the idea).

The excitement on the first day of the convention was palpable. Researchers readied to present their posters, presenters clipped on mics and the new APA presidential hopefuls passed out badges and literature around every corner.

Did you say Bryan Stevenson?

For me, the highlight of the convention was sitting in sessions and listening to well-known psychologists speak about their research and passions. Bryan Stevenson (attorney and author of Just Mercy….you’ve got to read it), provided the keynote address. (Can I say that I was doing a bit of “fan-girling” when I heard!)

AND Aaron Beck?

I’ve put together some quotes from the sessions I attended with some of these amazing people. To see them in person and hear directly from them was a great honor–especially since I teach about their work every semester. Here are some highlights:

Aaron Beck (Cognitive Therapy/Cognitive Behavioral Therapy developer). First of all, did you know that he goes by “Tem” (from his middle name Temkin)? At 97 years old he continues to research and write. He’s currently researching cognitive interventions for individuals with Schizophrenia. He was asked how many more years he’ll plan to do a video conference for the APA convention. He said, “I plan to do it for the next three years. After that, I’ll re-evaluate.” He’ll be 100 at that time!

Jon Kabat-Zinn – (Mindfulness Based-Stress Reduction developer). When asked about his approach, he said, “Mindfulness is not a therapy, it is a way of being.” He also stated, “Healing is not fixing but coming to terms with things as they are.”

Brad Bushman (previous member of President Obama’s committee on gun violence and researcher on violence and aggression). When speaking of media violence (tv, video games, etc) and its impact on kids and teens he said, “How can kids do something 7.5 hours per day and not be influenced by it?” He stated that he’s found, “When parents provide limits to media exposure, it decreases aggressive behavior.” He notes that he gets hate mail from teens about these assertions all the time! For example, “Video games don’t make me want to be violent but you do!”

Patricia Deegan (a major influencer of the mental health recovery movement and developer of the Schizophrenia “Hearing Voices” simulation). For people with Schizophrenia (and other sufferers of mental health issues), she encourages figuring out what your “personal medicine” is – things that we do that “put a smile on our face” and can potentially help decrease symptoms. For example, your personal medicine could be playing an instrument, petting a dog or gardening.

James Garbarino (researcher in child and adolescent development, particularly juvenile delinquency and childhood aggression). According to his research, the average number of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) for teen killers is 7+ out of 10. For the average American youth, the average is 1-2.

Next year the APA Convention will be in Chicago, IL. Want to go?

 

 

Dr. Veola Vazquez is a licensed psychologist and a professor of psychology at California Baptist University. To find out more about her ongoing research, check out her Culture and Character Lab.

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out,” (Proverbs 18:15).

Welcome to the inaugural post for the Center for the Study of Human Behavior (CSHB) blog! I am thrilled to have you join us in this digital space, where we can come together as a community of individuals interested in acquiring and extending our knowledge with the use of the empirical and theoretical tools of research. It is my hope as the Director of Research for the CSHB that the resources offered by the CSHB can support, extend and enhance your research whether you are just beginning or are a seasoned veteran to the research process.

As a research psychologist, I am deeply committed to the methods of science; I believe they offer valuable tools essential to distinguishing reality from perception. As a Christian, I am deeply committed to the truth of Scripture and the value of the Christian tradition in engaging the teachings of Jesus Christ in the 21^st century. For me, research is not just about knowledge, and the teachings of Jesus Christ are not just about belief; for me, both of these things come together as critical elements in my epistemological toolkit. Science, Scripture and the Christian tradition are three tools that I leverage as I seek to live a life worthy of my calling, to pursue truth and to better understand and engage with our Creator.

Here in this blog you will see snapshots of some of the research conducted through the CSHB. You will also hear stories of researchers bringing their identities as scientists and Christians together in the research process. You will read about innovative research happening across the globe and have an opportunity to engage in conversations about the implications. You may even find that you want to author a blog post to share about your own research, research you have read about, or your personal journey as a researcher. (Look for a future blog post for details on how to become a CSHB blog contributor!)

The CSHB website hosts this blog, and I encourage you to explore and engage with the content on the website. There is a lot of information complied there for you to enhance your skills, wherever you are in your research journey. (And, to be sure, it is a journey!) If you have suggestions for how to improve the website or suggestions for materials, resources or workshops that you would like to see in the future, please don’t hesitate to contact us.We are here to support your work. Let us know how we are doing that well or how we can do that better!

In fact, to encourage that exploration, I want to give you some CSHB-sponsored swag. Leave a comment below and tell us what you think of our new website. Want more entries while also ensuring that you are staying up-to-date on our research happenings? Subscribe to our newsletter here for occasional updates on CSHB happenings. (Don’t worry, we won’t spam your inbox.) All comments and newsletter subscriptions before September 25 will be entered into our raffle; winners will be drawn September 27, 2018! (Raffles only for current CBU students.)

 

Happy Researching,

Erin I. Smith, Ph.D.

Director of Research, Center for the Study of Human Behavior

cshb@calbaptist.edu