Are you interested in learning more about place-based human behavior? Take a look at this article by Zachary P. Neal!

Please enjoy the following article from the Journal of Urban Affairs, available online.

Comparing urban sociology’s human ecology and community psychology’s ecological metaphor, by Zachary P. Neal

Abstract:

This paper explores how two distinct scholarly disciplines both concerned with place-based human behavior have independently developed an ecological framework: urban sociology’s human ecology, and community psychology’s ecological metaphor. A comparison of these two frameworks shows they are similar in many ways, including their foundations, processes, and legacies. These frameworks emerged independently in similar social and intellectual milieus separated by 50 years, suggesting that their similarities could be the product of convergent evolution. These similarities highlight opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, while the differences identified by this comparison highlight opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning.