Psychology professor receives top faculty award

Families have turned to John Lochman for help for his expertise as a professor and psychologist for decades. Parents with aggressive children have looked to his innovative program, "Coping Power," to help their children, Lochman said.

Now, Lochman has received the University's 2007 Burnam Distinguished Faculty Award for his achievements in the field of psychology - especially his work to aid aggressive children and their families.

"[The award] is recognition for research and teaching for work done over the past several decades," Lochman said.

Lochman began his efforts working in a poor district of Dallas, Texas, with a federally-funded youth project. At the pediatric clinic where he was stationed, he said, there were frequent referrals with complaints about children's behavior. In response to these issues, Lochman said he began developing an anger coping program for the children.

At Duke University, Lochman said, he continued his research with colleagues. In the mid-1990s, a component was added to the program that had doctors work with both the children and their parents.

Lochman said research shows as parents become more depressed about their child's condition, they become more inconsistent with their parenting, so the child continues becoming more aggressive. By helping the parents, he said, the cycle can be stopped.

"I think that we've really been able to show that some approaches can help prevent serious antisocial behaviors in adolescents that can be transported to the real world," Lochman said.

Despite some difficulties, Lochman said he continues with his research and commitment to helping families in need.

"We have found that some schools and school staff are not very receptive to outside programs, often because the schools are under great stress to improves students' academic functioning or because of poor morale and little collaborative leadership in schools," Lochman said

Still, he said there are examples of positive results throughout the history of the program continuing on today. Lochman said his research work to determine whether community clinicians can use intervention programs that have a broad and lasting impact on children and parents is rewarding and successful.

Lochman usually works with lower income families. However, Lochman said he is always impressed with the hope families have for their children and the hope for the chance that their children will have more.

Lochman also said he enjoys working with students at the University.

"I find that working with enthusiastic, creative graduate and undergraduate students and seeing their success in developing their research skills to be very rewarding," he said.

A lot of the work that has been accomplished throughout his career could not have been accomplished without the help of colleagues and students, Lochman said.

Lochman teaches seminars for graduate students that include a focus on intervention research and on how children can be assisted to make more successful adjustment during the adolescent years.

The Burnam Distinguished Faculty Award is one of the highest honors that a professor at the University can receive. On Wednesday, in Shelby Hall, UA President Robert Witt will present the award, followed by a lecture by Lochman, titled "Youth Antisocial Behavior: Potential for Prevention."