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14 - Taking Back the Streets

Violence Prevention and Neighborhood Empowerment in the South Ward of Newark

from Part III - Community Psychology in Action

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2021

By
Christopher M. Thompson ,
Corinne C. Datchi  and
Lakeesha Eure
Edited by
Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers
Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers
Affiliation:
Long Island University, New York
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Summary

This chapter provides an overview of social disorganization and pluralistic neighborhood theories and their limitations in explaining the complexities of neighborhood life. It discusses how the systemic epistemology of couple and family psychology can enhance our understanding of the reciprocal and interdependent relations between individual behaviors and neighborhood characteristics. To illustrate the application of key family systems theory concepts, the chapter examines the activities of a community-based anti-violence organization in the South Ward of Newark, New Jersey, and highlights the community processes that are activated to increase neighborhood engagement and collective efficacy. Implications for community psychology are discussed.

Keywords

Neighborhood theoriesfamily systems theorycommunity organizinganti-violence interventions
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Community Psychology
Interdisciplinary and Contextual Perspectives
 , pp. 289 - 309
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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