Papers by Christopher R Beasley
PLOS ONE
This study seeks to better understand mechanisms of bias against formerly incarcerated and ethnic... more This study seeks to better understand mechanisms of bias against formerly incarcerated and ethnically minoritized job applicants as well as the interactive effects of those two identities. In a sample of 358 hiring managers in the United States, the 2 (incarceration history) x 4 (ethnicity) experiment will manipulate incarceration history and ethnicity through job application materials, and measure hireability, and perception of job applicants along dimensions of sociability/warmth, competence, and morality. We will use a moderated mediation model to test hypotheses regarding a main effect of prior incarceration and an interaction effect of incarceration history and ethnicity on judgments of hireability, as well as whether such effects are mediated through perception of job applicants. We expect results to inform both research and practice related to employment practices.
Substance Use & Misuse
Zeitschrift für Psychodrama und Soziometrie, 2015
The present study describes a factor analysis of the Revised Spontaneity Assessment Inventory (SA... more The present study describes a factor analysis of the Revised Spontaneity Assessment Inventory (SAI-R), an original scale design to measure spontaneity. The analysis revealed three factors underlying the inventory. The first, titled vigor/ pleasure, suggests that spontaneity is a pleasurable and dynamic experience. The second factor, titled freedom, indicates that spontaneity is characterized by a sense of free expression and actions unhindered by conventions. The third factor, titled involvement/focus, indicates that spontaneity is focused experience a characteristics that separates it from impulsivity. These factors seemed consistent with the theoretical understanding of spontaneity.
This two-volume handbook summarizes and makes sense of exciting intellectual developments in the ... more This two-volume handbook summarizes and makes sense of exciting intellectual developments in the field of community psychology. As a discipline that is considered a half century old in the United States, community psychology has grown in the sophistication and reach of theories and research. Reviewing the chapters of the APA Handbook of Community Psychology, the reader will readily notice several themes emerge. Community psychology\u27s ideas are becoming increasingly elaborated; its theory, research and interventions more situated; and its reach in both thought and action, more expansive. Ideas that may have seemed much simpler when first proposed -- for example, community, prevention and empowerment -- have come to pose challenges, contradictions and opportunities initially unspecified and perhaps unimagined. Under the editorial direction of Meg A. Bond, Irma Serrano-Garca̕, Christopher B. Keys, and Marybeth Shinn, with chapters authored by both senior and rising scholars, the APA Handbook of Community Psychology provides an indispensable and authoritative reference resource for researchers, instructors, students, practitioners, field leaders and life-long learners alike. This highly anticipated addition to the APA Handbooks in Psychology® series covers current knowledge and identifies the most pertinent sources of information in both the core and evolving literature. It highlights community psychology\u27s emphasis on the synergistic relationship between research and action, and offers an international outlook, including chapters integrating perspectives from across cultures and contexts around the world --Publicity materials. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 2016
and Science. He holds a Ph.D. in social psychology, masters' degrees in clinical psychology and s... more and Science. He holds a Ph.D. in social psychology, masters' degrees in clinical psychology and statistics, and bachelors' degrees in philosophy and psychology. Steve is interested in the relationship between stable individual difference characteristics and emotional experiences, the application of quantitative and novel research methodologies to psychological problems, and the history and philosophy of science in general. Most recently, he has been involved in making taxometric methods more accessible to psychologists. For over five years, he has also been involved in collaborative research with individuals in community psychology where he has ensured methodological rigor and contributed to conceptual
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 2016
and Science. He holds a Ph.D. in social psychology, masters' degrees in clinical psychology and s... more and Science. He holds a Ph.D. in social psychology, masters' degrees in clinical psychology and statistics, and bachelors' degrees in philosophy and psychology. Steve is interested in the relationship between stable individual difference characteristics and emotional experiences, the application of quantitative and novel research methodologies to psychological problems, and the history and philosophy of science in general. Most recently, he has been involved in making taxometric methods more accessible to psychologists. For over five years, he has also been involved in collaborative research with individuals in community psychology where he has ensured methodological rigor and contributed to conceptual
Oxford Scholarship Online, 2017
This chapter discusses the author’s experiences applying for tenure-track academic positions. The... more This chapter discusses the author’s experiences applying for tenure-track academic positions. These included both research- and teaching-focused positions. The chapter includes an overview of the process, tips for planning and organizing your search, and some of the author’s experiences navigating each step along the way. The author also discusses his decision to choose an academic career, the choice of a research or teaching focus, and strategies he used for making himself more marketable. Specific topics addressed include preparation for an academic career, branding strategies, networking, building a CV, evidence of teaching effectiveness, developing application materials, finding job opportunities, learning about programs and faculty, initial screening, campus visits, and negotiation.
Social Justice Counseling: The Next Steps Beyond Multiculturalism
Advocacy is important to community practice because it furthers the social justice goals of pract... more Advocacy is important to community practice because it furthers the social justice goals of practitioners and their community partners (Maton, Humphreys, Jason, & Shinn, in press). First and foremost, advocates may promote community psychology values when efforts are directed toward changing systems that perpetuate social problems. Advocacy may also help practitioners and community members secure resources and reduce barriers for the populations they serve. These types of efforts may influence the social environment as they create dialogue between community practitioners, community organizations, and policymakers, which has the potential to frame how the issue is discussed. Nonprofit organizations and citizen action coalitions are often closest to the problem and can serve as a bridge between government officials and the people they serve. Furthermore, advocacy can be an important service to the community when practitioners act as a resource to policymakers by providing knowledge, guidance, and mobilization. Finally, advocacy may be an opportunity to develop knowledge, skills, and abilities for community psychologists as well as their partners in the community.
Archives of Addiction and Rehabilitation, 2017
Oxford Houses (OH) are a peer-run sober living homes that are the largest network of recovery hom... more Oxford Houses (OH) are a peer-run sober living homes that are the largest network of recovery homes with over 2,000 in the US. They are self-run without any professional staff. The current study focused on better understanding the facilitators and barriers to OH entry for transgender individuals. The study explored ways in which transgender people found entry into the OHs and the experiences of transgender residents in OHs in comparison to cisgender residents. We conducted semi-structured interviews of 7 transgender women and 7 cisgender men, using grounded theory methodology. Participants reported fear and apprehensions upon entry into OH due to participants initially feeling that OHs may be similar to past settings that were not sensitive to their needs and gender identity. However, the participants reported diminished fear and comfort shortly after transitioning into OHs. Though discrimination was brought up, it appears that participants could work through minor issues by means of discussion and boundary setting. Both groups of participants followed similar paths in addiction and recovery. Salient themes including familial connections within the house are discussed.
American Journal of Sexuality Education, 2012
Recent societal trends indicate more tolerance for homosexuality, but prejudice remains on colleg... more Recent societal trends indicate more tolerance for homosexuality, but prejudice remains on college campuses. Speaker panels are commonly used in classrooms as a way to educate students about sexual diversity and decrease negative attitudes toward sexual diversity. The advent of computer delivered instruction presents a unique opportunity to broaden the impact of traditional speaker panels. The current investigation examined the influence of an interactive "virtual" gay and lesbian speaker panel on cognitive, affective, and behavioral homonegativity. Findings suggest the computer-administered panel is lowers homonegativity, particularly for affective experiential homonegativity. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed.
Addiction Research & Theory, 2013
The continued struggle of addiction recovery support systems suggest that the paradigm of this fi... more The continued struggle of addiction recovery support systems suggest that the paradigm of this field needs to continue its evolution, which has increasingly emphasized environments. Field Theory suggests that the products of individual and environmental characteristics be considered rather than a summation of the two. This study examined such interactions in Oxford Houses, a network of democratic, and self-governed addiction recovery homes. This study examined sobriety in experienced houses (average length of residency > six months) compared to less experienced houses (average length of residency ≤ six months) in relation to individual resident characteristics (age, length of residence in an Oxford House, and referral from the criminal justice system). Using multilevel modeling, findings indicated that older residents living in an experienced Oxford Houses were more likely to remain abstinent over time than those in inexperienced homes. Additionally, for inexperienced houses, residents who had been in the Oxford House for a longer period had a higher the probability of abstinence than those that had been in the house for a shorter period of time. Finally, legal referral was related to a lower probability of one-year abstinence but only for those in experienced homes. These types of personenvironment interactions point to the need for more research to better understand how person variables interact with environmental variables in the processes of recovery and adaptation to settings, as well as for treatment professionals' consideration of both person and environment when making recovery home referrals.
International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, Jan 14, 2015
Suicide attempts were examined in relation to sociodemographic (age, gender, ethnicity), psychopa... more Suicide attempts were examined in relation to sociodemographic (age, gender, ethnicity), psychopathological (prior psychiatric hospitalizations, physical and sexual abuse histories), and cognitive (personal need for structure) variables among a sample of ex-offenders with substance use disorders (N = 270). Hierarchical logistic regression was conducted to determine whether personal need for structure would significantly predict whether participants reported past suicide attempts beyond sociodemographic and psychopathological predictors. Personal need for structure and prior psychiatric hospitalizations were the only significant predictors, with higher values of these predictors increasing the likelihood of suicide attempts. Findings are consistent with a cognitive model for understanding suicide behavior, suggesting that persons with a high need for cognitive structures operate with persistent and rigid thought processes that contribute to their risk of suicide.
Addiction Research and Theory
The continued struggle of addiction recovery support systems suggest that the paradigm of this fi... more The continued struggle of addiction recovery support systems suggest that the paradigm of this field needs to continue its evolution, which has increasingly emphasized environments. Field Theory suggests that the products of individual and environmental characteristics be considered rather than a summation of the two. This study examined such interactions in Oxford Houses, a network of democratic, and self-governed addiction recovery homes. This study examined sobriety in experienced houses (average length of residency > six months) compared to less experienced houses (average length of residency ≤ six months) in relation to individual resident characteristics (age, length of residence in an Oxford House, and referral from the criminal justice system). Using multilevel modeling, findings indicated that older residents living in an experienced Oxford Houses were more likely to remain abstinent over time than those in inexperienced homes. Additionally, for inexperienced houses, res...
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 2015
Research has shown employment to be a central mediator to sustained recovery and community reentr... more Research has shown employment to be a central mediator to sustained recovery and community reentry for substance abusers; however, heroin users have lower employment rates and report lower mean incomes than other drug users. The authors of the present study assessed income generating behaviors of substance users recruited from substance abuse treatment facilities (N=247). Heroin users had higher mean incomes from illegal sources. Further, logistic regression analysis found heroin use to increase the likelihood of engagement in illegal income generating behaviors. As these results increase the likelihood of involvement in the criminal justice system, the implications for heroin specific treatment and rehabilitation are discussed.
American journal of community psychology, Jan 20, 2015
This study tested an affective events theory (AET) model in the Oxford House network of recovery ... more This study tested an affective events theory (AET) model in the Oxford House network of recovery homes. Residents' congruence with their home (P-E fit) was hypothesized to directly influence behavior that supported the house and other residents-citizenship behavior. We further hypothesized P-E fit would be related to member intentions to leave, with attitudes toward the home mediating that relationship. To assess this, we administered a cross-sectional national survey to 296 residents of 83 randomly selected Oxford Houses. Although the AET model demonstrated good fit with the data, an alternative model fit better. This alternative model suggested an additional indirect relationship between P-E fit and citizenship mediated by attitudes. Results suggested affective experiences such as feeling like one fits with a community may influence engagement and disengagement. There appears to be a direct influence of fit on citizenship behavior and an indirect influence of fit through recov...
American Journal of Community Psychology, 2015
This special section addresses a gap area of resilience and LGBT well-being. Although comprehensi... more This special section addresses a gap area of resilience and LGBT well-being. Although comprehensive global diversity regarding LGBT resilience was challenging to find, the special section includes representation from outside the US (Israel and Hong Kong), ethnic/racially diverse domestic populations, immigration, and one population for which LGBT identities might be considered marginalized-Christians in the US. The full range of LGBT identities are represented in the issue along with persons identifying as queer or questioning, although transgendered people were less well represented than lesbian, gay or bisexual identities.
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Papers by Christopher R Beasley