Interests |
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Dr. Herrin is a social psychologist with interests in several areas: (1) helping students develop their abilities to think, read, and write critically and mindfully; (2) people's belief systems and corresponding views of the world and social policy, especially as they pertain to issues regarding the involvements and well-being of women, men, and children in families, workplaces, institutions, communities, and society; (3) the factors that determine how people with different sets of beliefs and values interpret facts in different and often opposing ways; (4) the physical and social environments of the home as a context for the study of family living and social-psychological, developmental, and cultural processes that affect people’s sense of attachment, place, and “home”; (5) understanding and eliminating aggressive, violent, and abusive behavior between people within intimate and family relationships; and (6) the differences and similarities between the ways dads and moms parent their children and how their children influence them. In addition to his own department, Dr. Herrin is an adjunct faculty member of the Gender Studies Program. |
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Courses Taught |
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FCS 3240: Family Belief Systems (3) Fulfills Upper-division Communication/Writing. People with different values and belief systems about families view similar policies, laws, problems, and issues regarding families in very different ways; implications of different belief systems for defining which families are strong and resilient and which families are at-risk and need society's assistence. Course examines and critiques issues surrounding contemporary families from conservative, liberal, and feminist perspectives prevalent in our society and the physical, social, political, and religious systems in which they are embedded.
FCS 3260: Fatherhood (3) Social, cultural, historical, and psychological study of fatherhood over the life span and corresponding perspectives regarding masculinity and manhood. Analysis of the role of fathers in the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development of children and the role of fathers in the development of gender identity and sexual orientation in children. Examination of the various and controversial roles and images of fathers as nurturers, co-parents, providers, protectors, patriarchs, 'dead-beat dads,' and sperm-donors in our culture and the media. Exploration of processes for establishing, maintaining, and strengthening relationships between fathers and their children and between children and their fathers.
FCS 3630: Strengthening Homes and Families (3) Fulfills Social/Behavioral Science Exploration. Building and preserving strong, resilient families and warm, open home environments to sustain them through respectful and supportive family relationships, interactions, communication, listening, and problem-solving. Emphasis on individual and family well-being and an awareness of the strengths of family systems as well as the challenges facing families in contemporary society. Related study of meaning of home and family; meaning and importance of family history and traditions; processes through which personal and family meaning is made and shared.
FCS 5370: Family Violence (3) Fulfills Upper Division Communication/Writing. Multidisciplinary study of family violence and abuse including abuse and neglect of children, spouses, and the elderly; psychological, verbal, and sexual abuse, and courtship violence. Different theoretical perspectives for understanding violence in the family; current policy, treatment, and prevention efforts; controversies in studying family violence. |
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Current Course Syllabi, Overhead Notes, and Materials |
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FCS 3240: Family Belief Systems
Current Course Syllabus
FCS 3260: Fatherhood
Current Course Syllabus
Notes for Pruett's Introduction
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 1
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 2
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 3
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 4
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 5
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 6
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 7
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 8
Notes for Pruett's Chapter 9
FCS 3630: Strengthening Homes and Families
Current Course Syllabus, Sections 1 and 2
Notes for Gittins' reading
Notes for Bronfenbrenner's reading
Notes for Casper and Bianchi's reading
Notes for Giele's reading
Notes for Olson's reading
Notes for Popenoe and Whitehead's reading
Notes for Solot and Miller's reading
Notes for Peterson and Gallagher's readings
Notes for Marano's reading
Notes for Doherty's reading
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 1
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 2
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 3
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 4
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 5
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 6
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 7
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 8
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 9
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 10
Notes for Gottman's Chapter 11
Notes for Gottman's Afterword
Notes for Hayward's reading
FCS 5370: Family Violence
Current Course Syllabus
Notes for Miller's Poisonous Pedagogy
Notes for Dobson's Solid Answers |
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Links |
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Links to Resources for Students and Other Interested Parties |
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Publications |
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Herrin, D.A., and Wright, S. D. (1988). Precursors to a family ecology: Interrelated threads of ecological thought. Family Science Review, 1, 163-183. Wright, S. D., and Herrin, D. A. (1988).
Herrin, D.A., (1988) Family Ecology: An approach to the interdisciplinary complexity of the study of family phenomena. Family Science Review, 1, 253-281. |
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