October 13, 2010
Perkins publishes research on successful campaign to reduce drinking and driving
Wesley Perkins, professor of sociology, is the lead author in a new study titled "Effectiveness of Social Norms Media Marketing in Reducing Drinking and Driving: A Statewide Campaign" that appears in the October issue of the journal, Addictive Behaviors. The study employed a quasi experimental design in research conducted across the state of Montana over a two year period. Results demonstrate a significant reduction in drinking and driving in the counties where a social norms media intervention was introduced compared to other counties. The media campaign designed to reduce misperceptions of norms about drinking and driving was based on Perkins' theory of social normative influence and its application to the reduction of risk behaviors...
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September 28, 2010
Perkins gives several invited lectures and a key note address, "The Social Norms Approach to Health Promotion: Talking Truth about Youth," and workshops in the UK at the University of Bedfordshire in Bedford England
Wesley Perkins, professor of sociology, was invited to give the keynote address, "The Social Norms Approach to Health Promotion: Talking Truth about Youth," at a conference on reducing youth risk behavior. The conference took place on Sept. 16, at the University of Bedfordshire in Bedford, England, and was attended by social workers, health educators and school administrators working with youth throughout the midlands area of England. At the same conference Perkins provided a workshop on "Using Social Norms in Bullying and Violence Prevention."...

September 10, 2010
Perkins and Craig publish research on peer weight norms in the UK
A new article coauthored by Wesley Perkins, professor of sociology, and David Craig, professor of chemistry, in collaboration with Jessica Perkins of the Department of Health Policy, Harvard University, was just published titled "Peer weight norm misperception as a risk factor for being over and underweight among UK secondary school students."...
Click the link to download the publication.

July 21, 2010
Perkins and Craig deliver research at National Social Norms Conference
Wesley Perkins, professor of sociology, and David Craig, professor of chemistry, gave several presentations at the 2010 National Conference on the Social Norms Approach meeting in Philadelphia, Pa., from July 11 through 13. The national conference has been meeting annually for more than 10 years and is entirely devoted to the social norms model for promoting health and well-being and reducing risk behaviors in a variety of populations. This social norms model was originally introduced to the field of health promotion and risk prevention by Perkins in the 1980s, and Perkins and Craig have been leaders in designing applications and conducting research since...