‘Decade of Behavior’

By Susan Williams

The initiative’s purpose is to highlight contributions of the behavioral and social sciences in addressing many challenges facing American society. These include ensuring and improving education; improving health and access to health care; ensuring safety in homes and communities; curbing drug use and abuse; reducing poverty, racism, cynicism toward institutions of government, crime and high-risk behaviors; and actively addressing an aging population.

Pescosolido, who was one of 13 researchers to make presentations at the “Decade of Behavior” launch, was nominated as an exhibitor by the American Sociological Association. Her topic was “The Role of Human Connections in Health: Social Networks and the Us e of Treatment Systems.”

A major feature of the “Decade of Behavior” initiative will be a multi-faceted public education campaign to address the compelling need for greater understanding by the general public and local, state and federal policy makers of behavioral and social sci ence research findings.

http://www.decadeofbehavior.org/index.html