ACBS Spotlight: Nurturing Environments - Bringing Behavioral Science into the Culture

For 25 years Tony Biglan of Oregon Research Institute (and long-time ACBS member) has been diligently working to bring behavioral science to the area of prevention with the purpose of building well-being at a societal level. With such initiatives as changing public policy to increase safety behaviors (such as seatbealt wearing), preventing smoking, preventing and addressing risky behavior in youth, Tony and countless others have sought ways to move closer to a more real "Walden Two" for children and adults. It is admirable how his work and the work of others have brought us closer to a society that fosters psychological flexibility, values, and health and well-being. Today I want to turn our ACBS Spotlight onto Tony's blog: Nurturing Environments. In this blog Tony describes recent initiatives, such as the Promise Neighborhoods Research Consortium, a grant-funded project to transform 50 communities into more physiologically flexible and nurturing ones at all levels -- from the grocery store clerk to the school administrator. I highly recommend reading up on Tony's blog whenever you need a dose of inspiration and have a desire to broaden the way you think about how your work effects those around you. For a particularly beautiful treatise on what Nurturing Environments means, read this entry. What might be possible if each of us took a moment to consider how we might influence the world around us for the better? How can we live our values on a daily basis as both human beings and as psychological scientists?