The following article was reprinted from Psychological Science Agenda (Vol. 12, No.2; March/April 1999), with permission of the American Psychological Association (APA) Science Directorate

Decade of Behavior Gets a Jump-Start!

Even the wrath of one of Washington DC’s worst ice storms in recent history could not diminish the excitement felt at the first meeting of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) of the Decade of Behavior (DoB) initiative. The mid-January meeting brought together nine distinguished scientists to define the initiative’s agenda of promotion of the behavioral and social sciences.

Co-chairs Aletha Huston (University of Texas, Austin) and John Bruer (McDonnell Foundation) guided the group through what might be called a "development" agenda -- one that required the members to begin outlining the framework of the Decade of Behavior for the next 10 years.

"The atmosphere in the room was almost electric," said Richard McCarty, APA Executive Director for Science, who convened the first meeting. "The NAC members are among the most energetic, imaginative people I have ever met. I am delighted to have an opportunity to work with them."

NAC members began work on a mission statement that will provide the blueprint for future activities. The elements of the statement will, among other things, reflect the group’s decision that the initiative should have a subtitle. The committee voted to make "Decade of Behavior: Promoting Research and Application to Enhance Health, Safety, and Education within a more Prosperous and Democratic Society," the full title of the initiative, demonstrating the broad, interdisciplinary nature of the initiative.

"The initiative involves complexities, difficulties, and multiple possible goals and priorities, but I felt that to a remarkable extent there was a shared vision of the larger goals of the initiative," said committee member Robert Bjork. "Among all of us there is a commitment to the idea that it is continuing progress in the social and behavioral sciences that provides the best opportunity to address the fundamental individual and societal problems that face this nation."

Committee members quickly identified a number of efforts that will be developed over the next few months. Among these activities are: garnering the support of Congress for a Congressional resolution supporting the DoB; developing avenues to appropriately involve the many scientific societies that have endorsed the DoB; and gaining the involvement of a celebrity honorary chair.

The entire NAC also voted to expand its membership from 12 to 15, adding an anthropologist, an economist, and a physician to the mix of behavioral and social scientists on the Committee. Already on board are Professor Dean Falk of SUNY-Albany, a nominee of the American Anthropological Association, and Professor Charles Plott, California Institute of Technology, a nominee representing scholars in economics. The NAC plans to hold its next meeting by early summer.

National Advisory Committee members are: Robert A. Bjork, PhD, University of California at Los Angeles; John T. Bruer, PhD, James S. McDonnell Foundation (Co-Chair); Roger M. Downs, PhD, Pennsylvania State University; Troy Duster, PhD, University of California at Berkeley; Dean Falk, PhD, SUNY-Albany; Lila Gleitman, PhD, University of Pennsylvania; Aletha Huston, PhD, University of Texas at Austin (Co-Chair); Jack O. Lanier, DrPH, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University; Stephen B. Manuck, PhD, University of Pittsburgh; Linda G. Martin, PhD, The Population Council; Joe L. Martinez, PhD, University of Texas at San Antonio; Paula D. McClain, PhD, University of Virginia; Anne C. Petersen, PhD, W. K. Kellogg Foundation; and Charles Plott, PhD, California Institute of Technology.