A Glimpse of Our Research

Constructs of the Perceived Risk Hierarchy Theory (PRHT)

The PRHT arrived at an assumption that because youth and emerging adults live every day on high alert for perceived threats/severity and are in a constant state of mobilizing for fight, flight, or suspense as they anticipate the next assault, it becomes less likely for this generation to concentrate, learn, recall, perceive a future orientation, and delay immediate gratification. To face the immense challenges of high-risk scapes, historical trauma, exposure to community violence, lead poisoning, school safety, epigenetic effect and a cadre of other adversities, youth and young adults must adjust to the hardships associated with learning how to survive.

Survivornomics

Survivornomics^TM suggest that youth and emerging adults residing in disadvantaged, hyper-segregated and marginalized communities live, adjust and thrive in the face of adversities while discovering resilience. Because the challenges they face are multi-factorial and involve various systems (e.g., socio-ecological systems), we must think critically about the factors that determine their behaviors and avoid becoming rigid in our deliberations.

The problems confronting our youth are enormous: morbidity, education inequality, lead-poisoning, residing in high-risk scapes, cumulative exposure to community violence, as well as un-addressed adverse childhood experiences (ACES) with adverse community environments (Ellis, 2018).

Our intervention solutions will be built and designed to incorporate the tenants of the PRHT.

Upcoming Book