Behavior setting theory and community psychology: An analysis and critique

Abstract

Although Barker's “behavior setting theory” (Barker, 1968; Price, 1976) is widely cited for its potential applications to community psychology, critical examination of this conception reveals significant limitations in its operational definition of “community” and in the extent to which predictions regarding direct influences on behavior have been validated in natural settings. From the perspective of community psychology there is also reason to question behavior setting theory's fundamental emphasis on the structural form of settings rather than on the functions they fulfill for their participants. Adopting new units of analysis and placing greater emphasis on the intended and unintended satisfactions that settings produce will make behavior setting theory more relevant to several problems in community psychology, including community assessment, person‐environment interaction, and community change.

Setting Phenotypes in a Mutual Help Organization: Expanding Behavior Setting Theory

“…3 If a setting has fewer people to fill its roles than is optimal, aPrevious authors have used the term "undermanning" when referring to this work. We encourage others to follow the lead of Perkins, Burns, Perry, and Nielsen (1988) and Schoggen (1989), and adopt the nonsexist word "underpopulation." the setting is considered underpopulated.…”

“…Barker's theory of behavior settings (1968,1978) was hailed as a potentially revolutionary eco-behavioral theory upon first introduction (Wicker, 1987). For the most part, however, behavior setting theory has not had the expected impact on the work of community psychologists and others (Kaminski, 1983;Perkins, Burns, Perry, & Nielsen, 1988). In this article we discuss one possible reason for this lack of impact, and present the results of a study designed to expand the theory of behavior settings.…”

Culture in Asian American Community Psychology: Beyond the East–West Binary

“…The ecological perspective that has been central to community psychology (Kelly 2006) has sought to describe community as high-impact social settings and contexts (such as neighborhoods) that affect individuals. Within a behavior setting theory of community psychology, community has been defined in terms of ''activity range'' or the number and kinds of settings that an individual participates in (Perkins et al 1988). Certainly, many Asian American communities are placebased (e.g., residents of Little Saigon in Orange County in Southern California, Vietnamese American community in New Orleans, Louisiana).…”

Alternative views of behavior settings: A response to Schoggen

“…My plan is to respond only to the points of disagreement identified by Schoggen as distinguishing the views presented by Perkins et al (1988) from those held by him and by Roger Barker. The primary basis for these disagreements is that my co-authors and I have tried to understand behavior settings somewhat differently than do Schoggen and Barker.…”

“…Phil Schoggen's (1988) commentary on the article "Behavior Setting Theory and Community Psychology: An Analysis and Critique" (Perkins, Burns, Perry, & Nielsen, 1988) is a welcome response raising many useful issues. My plan is to respond only to the points of disagreement identified by Schoggen as distinguishing the views presented by Perkins et al (1988) from those held by him and by Roger Barker. The primary basis for these disagreements is that my co-authors and I have tried to understand behavior settings somewhat differently than do Schoggen and Barker.…”