On April 22, many citizens, researchers, and clinicians engaged in the #MarchforScience across the world to promote how science shapes our lives and improves society. According to the official March for Science website, the march was a celebration of science. “People who value science have remained silent for far too long in the face of policies that ignore scientific evidence and endanger both human life and the future of our world. New policies threaten to further restrict scientists’ ability to research and communicate their findings. We face a possible future where people not only ignore scientific evidence, but seek to eliminate it entirely. Staying silent is a luxury that we can no longer afford. We must stand together and support science.” – March for Science In an interview with PBS NewsHour (click here to read the full story: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/people-joining-skipping-march-science/), I discussed my reasons for joining the March for Science. As a psychologist, I am fully aware of the role that psychological science plays in our lives. I've had the opportunity to talk with policy makers in D.C. about the benefits of psychological science to help understand and address issues in society. The American Psychological Association also officially supported the march in D.C. and for decades have supported the use of science in policy decisions on Capital Hill. Here is a video on how psychological science has helped society. Tips on Talking With Policy Makers About Science In a previous post, I have discussed some strategies on advocacy. In my years of engaging in advocacy, these tops have been helpful in getting my messages across to policy makers.
You can visit the APA website for more information on advocacy. Copyright 2017 Erlanger A. Turner, Ph.D.
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In the past few months, tension has grown in America as the Black Lives Matter movement continues to call for justice to be served following police shootings. It is time that communities, law enforcement, national and local organizations, and policy makers work together to bring about change to address these injustices and systemic racism. In a recent interview, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called for policy change to improve policies and address implicit biases among law enforcement. Implicit biases are unconscious negative attitudes and beliefs about a group of people. For example, an implicit bias among law enforcement may be that Black people are bad or violent. As a field, psychology has been involved in decades of research to understand implicit biases and how it impacts behavior. It is my belief that this knowledge must be used to serve as a change agent. There are several things that can be done to address racism and implicit biases among law enforcement. As a Black psychologist, I urge the American Psychological Association to utilize its research knowledge and policy efforts to continue advocating law makers to create legislation that will improve training for police officers and promote social justice efforts at local levels to help empower communities to combat discriminatory practices. Click here to read my complete post on Huffington Post. The Association of Black Psychologist - Supports Black Life Activism Although we have made some progress with race relations in America, we continue to revisit painful experiences. For many parents you are faced with teaching your child at a very young age the reality of being treated different based on the color of their skin. With the recent shootings in Baton Rouge, Falcon Heights, and Dallas, many children have witnessed these events through media or participated in rallies with their families. In light of these incidents, I wanted to share some coping strategies I previously wrote several years ago following similar events. The following tips may be helpful to create resiliency in youth.
Copyright 2016 Erlanger A. Turner, Ph.D. A version of this blog was previously written and posted by Dr. Turner on Psychology Today |
AuthorDr. Turner is a licensed psychologist with expertise in behavioral pediatrics, child mental health, disruptive behavior disorders, and minority mental health. He is also certified as a National Register Health Service Psychologist. Archives
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