Dalton, Elias, and Wandersman have answered the challenge of transforming an abstract, theoretical topic into a lively and understandable subject for students. Through concrete examples and consistent pedagogy, this text helps students understand the concepts and then provides opportunities for students to apply them. After introducing community psychology and its history, the authors describe methods of community research and discuss how to understand communities from the perspectives of sense of community, coping, and social support. The focus then shifts to community programs and actions: preventing problem behavior and promoting social competence, citizen participation, organizing for community and social change, and program evaluation and development.

Jim Dalton is professor of Psychology at Bloomsburg University and is in charge of the undergraduate curriculum clearinghouse for community psychology for the Society for Research in Community Psychology. He holds a bachelor's degree from King College in Tennessee, a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, and he currently teaches at Bloomsburg University.Maurice J. Elias earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Connecticut. Dr. Elias is a Professor for the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University, and co-developer of the Social Decision Making/Social Problem Solving Project. Areas of research interest include clinical, school, and community psychology particularly in the area of children, adolescents, and families; design and evaluation of preventive interventions; social, cognitive, and behavioral competence; and emotional intelligence.Abraham Wandersman earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University in 1976 and is currently a professor at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Wandersman's areas of interest include community psychology, program evaluation, environmental and ecological psychology, citizen participation, community coalitions, and program evaluation.

Tags: community psychology