Michael C Gearhart
Biographic Data
| ID | 4100825 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Michael C Gearhart |
| GIVEN NAMES | Michael C |
| FAMILY NAME | Gearhart |
| SIGNATURE | GEARHART M C |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Missouri–St. Louis |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-1054-6985 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 51 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 23 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2018 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Community-based crime prevention and neighborhood activism: Testing the mediational role of mutual efficacy and neighboring in collective efficacy theory
The Emotional and Behavioral Impact of Social Connections and Observant Adults in the Neighborhood, School, and Family on Youth
The Multilevel Factor Structure of Social Cohesion, Mutual Efficacy, and Informal Social Control: A Case for Practice-Informed Research
Collective efficacy is the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social control. Mutual efficacy, the perceived capability of the community, mediates the relationship between the two constructs. Interventions based on collective efficacy have a positive impact on individuals but are limited in their ability to affect the broader community. A possible explanation for this finding is that community-level theories operate differe…
Assessing the emotional and behavioral impact of community and extra curricular activities, police contact, and collective efficacy among youth
A broad body of research suggests that interactions with the police can have a negative impact on emotional and behavioral outcomes among youth. Therefore, developing interventions that simultaneously reduce youth involvement in criminalized activities and promote positive outcomes for youth are foundational to creating a just society. The present study examines the emotional and behavioral impact that police contact, community and extracurricula…
Injustice is Ahistorical: A Case Study of St. Louis
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of historical context in social work practice, research, and teaching. Understanding the evolution of racist policies and practices is necessary for developing antiracist practices that promote racial equity. Using St. Louis as a case study, the manuscript describes how racist policies and practices evolved over time between the 1900s and 1970s. These policies and practices will be examin…
Empowerment and collective efficacy: Insights for community-based crime prevention
The current climate surrounding policing in the United States indicates a need to develop more community-based solutions to crime in order to create a more just society. Collective efficacy theory is a widely studied framework that explores how communities mobilize to address crime through informal social control. Though collective efficacy is associated with lower levels of crime, research suggests that developing effective interventions based o…
Police behaviors and procedural justice: Testing predictors of police-initiated post-traumatic stress symptoms
Mutual Efficacy, Self-Efficacy, and Collective Efficacy Theory: An Examination of Empowerment and Activism
Empowerment refers to the ways in which individuals and groups gain greater control over their lives. To date, the majority of studies focus on empowerment at the individual level. Further, research typically focuses on how to make people feel empowered and not how communities exercise their power. The present study utilizes collective efficacy, a community-level theory, to explore community characteristics that may empower individuals to engage …
Youth Profiles of Police-Initiated Post-Traumatic Stress Symptomatology
Supportive Neighborhoods, Family Resilience and Flourishing in Childhood and Adolescence
Flourishing is linked with health and well-being in childhood and adulthood. This study applied a promotive factors model to examine how neighborhood assets might benefit child and adolescent flourishing by promoting family resilience. Using data from the combined 2018 and 2019 National Survey of Children's Health, structural equation models tested direct and indirect relationships between neighborhood physical environment, neighborhood social co…
Social cohesion, mutual efficacy and informal social control: Collective efficacy and community-based crime prevention
A Psychometric Evaluation of the Mutual Efficacy Scale: Factor Structure, Convergent, and Divergent Validity
Mutual efficacy refers to group members’ beliefs that collective action will be successful at achieving group goals. The primary purpose of mutual efficacy is to increase the effectiveness of interventions aimed at facilitating collective actions in communities. The present study builds on previous mutual efficacy research by examining the psychometric properties of a mutual efficacy scale. Findings suggest that the mutual efficacy scale represen…
Social Ties and Collective Efficacy as Predictors of Volunteering
Volunteering has been defined as any activity to which (1) an individual devotes their free time; and (2) a second person or group receives a benefit (Wilson, 2000). This definition includes a larg
The law is the law”: The Malaysian police readiness for the implementation of restorative policing
Criminogenic Risk, Criminogenic Need, Collective Efficacy, and Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is influenced by reciprocal relationships between micro-level and macro-level factors. The risk, need, and responsivity (RNR) model, and collective efficacy theory are two commonly used frameworks in juvenile justice research. This study builds on previous research by testing indicators of both the RNR model and collective efficacy theory as predictors of self-reported juvenile delinquency utilizing data from the Fragile Fami…
Parent and Child Perceptions of Collective Efficacy as Predictors of Delinquency
Juvenile delinquency has a negative effect on victims, communities and the individual who commits a delinquent act. However, exposure to the juvenile justice system can be a traumatic event that results in further delinquency—highlighting a need to develop community-based interventions to prevent delinquency. Collective efficacy theory is a commonly used framework to prevent juvenile delinquency. Although community-level interventions have been d…
Social cohesion, internal efficacy, and external efficacy: Studying voting behavior using collective efficacy theory
Collective efficacy theory is a widely used theoretical framework for explaining how social cohesion is activated as collective actions. Because collective efficacy was developed as a criminological theory, the majority of collective efficacy research focuses on the relationship between social cohesion and informal social control. Conceptually, social cohesion can be activated as civic participation – particularly voting. Although research examin…
Patterns of Neighboring and Predictors of Neighboring across Race: A Latent Class Analysis
Residential segregation has created a stark racial and economic divide in the United States. Prior research suggests facilitating social interactions among diverse groups of neighbors is a particularly difficult – and particularly important step in addressing the legacy of segregation in the United States. This study examines patterns of neighboring across race using latent class analysis, and identifies individual characteristics associated with…
Integrating Sociological and Psychological Perspectives on Collective Efficacy
Collective efficacy is rooted in both psychology, and sociology. Discussions of the differences between the sociological and psychological conceptualization and operationalization of collective efficacy is limited. In psychology, collective efficacy reflects a group’s belief that collective action can be successful. In sociology, collective efficacy is a theory that describes the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social co…
Preventing Neighborhood Disorder: Comparing Alternative Models of Collective Efficacy Theory Using Structural Equation Modeling
Highlights Develops mutual efficacy to make “efficacy” an explicit component within collective efficacy theory Compares three models of collective efficacy theory using structural equation modeling Summarizes conceptual and empirical critiques of collective efficacy theory
Testing Predictors of Mutual Efficacy
Objectives Collective efficacy has developed concurrently in both sociology and psychology. In sociology, collective efficacy is the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social control. In psychology, collective efficacy is a construct that focuses on a group's belief in its ability to achieve shared goals. Mutual efficacy reflects group members' beliefs that collective action can be successful at achieving group goals. Mutua…
Social cohesion, mutual efficacy, and informal social control: Enhancing the conceptualization of collective efficacy
Collective efficacy has been one of the most valuable and influential concepts in neighborhood research of the past 20 years. However, interventions designed to increase collective efficacy report mixed findings, suggesting that there may be a gap between collective efficacy theory and practice. We assert that the conceptualization of collective efficacy limits its ability to guide and evaluate community-based practice. This article contributes t…
Perceptions of Collective Efficacy Among Single Mothers: Insights for Conceptualization and Measurement
Neighborhoods with higher levels of collective efficacy are associated with more favorable family outcomes such as lower teen pregnancy rates and less antisocial behavior among children. Collective efficacy is traditionally measured by combining the constructs of social cohesion and informal social control, yet these two constructs may have unique influences on family outcomes. While prior studies have examined collective efficacy's factor struct…
Social cohesion, mutual efficacy, and informal social control: Enhancing the conceptualization of collective efficacy
Collective efficacy has been one of the most valuable and influential concepts in neighborhood research of the past 20 years. However, interventions designed to increase collective efficacy report mixed findings, suggesting that there may be a gap between collective efficacy theory and practice. We assert that the conceptualization of collective efficacy limits its ability to guide and evaluate community-based practice. This article contributes t…
Preventing Neighborhood Disorder: Comparing Alternative Models of Collective Efficacy Theory Using Structural Equation Modeling
Highlights Develops mutual efficacy to make “efficacy” an explicit component within collective efficacy theory Compares three models of collective efficacy theory using structural equation modeling Summarizes conceptual and empirical critiques of collective efficacy theory
Social Ties and Collective Efficacy as Predictors of Volunteering
Volunteering has been defined as any activity to which (1) an individual devotes their free time; and (2) a second person or group receives a benefit (Wilson, 2000). This definition includes a larg
Social cohesion, internal efficacy, and external efficacy: Studying voting behavior using collective efficacy theory
Collective efficacy theory is a widely used theoretical framework for explaining how social cohesion is activated as collective actions. Because collective efficacy was developed as a criminological theory, the majority of collective efficacy research focuses on the relationship between social cohesion and informal social control. Conceptually, social cohesion can be activated as civic participation – particularly voting. Although research examin…
Perceptions of Collective Efficacy Among Single Mothers: Insights for Conceptualization and Measurement
Neighborhoods with higher levels of collective efficacy are associated with more favorable family outcomes such as lower teen pregnancy rates and less antisocial behavior among children. Collective efficacy is traditionally measured by combining the constructs of social cohesion and informal social control, yet these two constructs may have unique influences on family outcomes. While prior studies have examined collective efficacy's factor struct…
Integrating Sociological and Psychological Perspectives on Collective Efficacy
Collective efficacy is rooted in both psychology, and sociology. Discussions of the differences between the sociological and psychological conceptualization and operationalization of collective efficacy is limited. In psychology, collective efficacy reflects a group’s belief that collective action can be successful. In sociology, collective efficacy is a theory that describes the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social co…
Police behaviors and procedural justice: Testing predictors of police-initiated post-traumatic stress symptoms
Mutual Efficacy, Self-Efficacy, and Collective Efficacy Theory: An Examination of Empowerment and Activism
Empowerment refers to the ways in which individuals and groups gain greater control over their lives. To date, the majority of studies focus on empowerment at the individual level. Further, research typically focuses on how to make people feel empowered and not how communities exercise their power. The present study utilizes collective efficacy, a community-level theory, to explore community characteristics that may empower individuals to engage …
Testing Predictors of Mutual Efficacy
Objectives Collective efficacy has developed concurrently in both sociology and psychology. In sociology, collective efficacy is the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social control. In psychology, collective efficacy is a construct that focuses on a group's belief in its ability to achieve shared goals. Mutual efficacy reflects group members' beliefs that collective action can be successful at achieving group goals. Mutua…
Assessing the emotional and behavioral impact of community and extra curricular activities, police contact, and collective efficacy among youth
A broad body of research suggests that interactions with the police can have a negative impact on emotional and behavioral outcomes among youth. Therefore, developing interventions that simultaneously reduce youth involvement in criminalized activities and promote positive outcomes for youth are foundational to creating a just society. The present study examines the emotional and behavioral impact that police contact, community and extracurricula…
Social cohesion, mutual efficacy and informal social control: Collective efficacy and community-based crime prevention
A Psychometric Evaluation of the Mutual Efficacy Scale: Factor Structure, Convergent, and Divergent Validity
Mutual efficacy refers to group members’ beliefs that collective action will be successful at achieving group goals. The primary purpose of mutual efficacy is to increase the effectiveness of interventions aimed at facilitating collective actions in communities. The present study builds on previous mutual efficacy research by examining the psychometric properties of a mutual efficacy scale. Findings suggest that the mutual efficacy scale represen…
Parent and Child Perceptions of Collective Efficacy as Predictors of Delinquency
Juvenile delinquency has a negative effect on victims, communities and the individual who commits a delinquent act. However, exposure to the juvenile justice system can be a traumatic event that results in further delinquency—highlighting a need to develop community-based interventions to prevent delinquency. Collective efficacy theory is a commonly used framework to prevent juvenile delinquency. Although community-level interventions have been d…
Perceptions of Collective Efficacy Among Single Mothers: Insights for Conceptualization and Measurement
Neighborhoods with higher levels of collective efficacy are associated with more favorable family outcomes such as lower teen pregnancy rates and less antisocial behavior among children. Collective efficacy is traditionally measured by combining the constructs of social cohesion and informal social control, yet these two constructs may have unique influences on family outcomes. While prior studies have examined collective efficacy's factor struct…
Patterns of Neighboring and Predictors of Neighboring across Race: A Latent Class Analysis
Residential segregation has created a stark racial and economic divide in the United States. Prior research suggests facilitating social interactions among diverse groups of neighbors is a particularly difficult – and particularly important step in addressing the legacy of segregation in the United States. This study examines patterns of neighboring across race using latent class analysis, and identifies individual characteristics associated with…
Integrating Sociological and Psychological Perspectives on Collective Efficacy
Collective efficacy is rooted in both psychology, and sociology. Discussions of the differences between the sociological and psychological conceptualization and operationalization of collective efficacy is limited. In psychology, collective efficacy reflects a group’s belief that collective action can be successful. In sociology, collective efficacy is a theory that describes the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social co…
Preventing Neighborhood Disorder: Comparing Alternative Models of Collective Efficacy Theory Using Structural Equation Modeling
Highlights Develops mutual efficacy to make “efficacy” an explicit component within collective efficacy theory Compares three models of collective efficacy theory using structural equation modeling Summarizes conceptual and empirical critiques of collective efficacy theory
Testing Predictors of Mutual Efficacy
Objectives Collective efficacy has developed concurrently in both sociology and psychology. In sociology, collective efficacy is the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social control. In psychology, collective efficacy is a construct that focuses on a group's belief in its ability to achieve shared goals. Mutual efficacy reflects group members' beliefs that collective action can be successful at achieving group goals. Mutua…
Social cohesion, mutual efficacy, and informal social control: Enhancing the conceptualization of collective efficacy
Collective efficacy has been one of the most valuable and influential concepts in neighborhood research of the past 20 years. However, interventions designed to increase collective efficacy report mixed findings, suggesting that there may be a gap between collective efficacy theory and practice. We assert that the conceptualization of collective efficacy limits its ability to guide and evaluate community-based practice. This article contributes t…
Criminogenic Risk, Criminogenic Need, Collective Efficacy, and Juvenile Delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is influenced by reciprocal relationships between micro-level and macro-level factors. The risk, need, and responsivity (RNR) model, and collective efficacy theory are two commonly used frameworks in juvenile justice research. This study builds on previous research by testing indicators of both the RNR model and collective efficacy theory as predictors of self-reported juvenile delinquency utilizing data from the Fragile Fami…
Parent and Child Perceptions of Collective Efficacy as Predictors of Delinquency
Juvenile delinquency has a negative effect on victims, communities and the individual who commits a delinquent act. However, exposure to the juvenile justice system can be a traumatic event that results in further delinquency—highlighting a need to develop community-based interventions to prevent delinquency. Collective efficacy theory is a commonly used framework to prevent juvenile delinquency. Although community-level interventions have been d…
Social cohesion, internal efficacy, and external efficacy: Studying voting behavior using collective efficacy theory
Collective efficacy theory is a widely used theoretical framework for explaining how social cohesion is activated as collective actions. Because collective efficacy was developed as a criminological theory, the majority of collective efficacy research focuses on the relationship between social cohesion and informal social control. Conceptually, social cohesion can be activated as civic participation – particularly voting. Although research examin…
The law is the law”: The Malaysian police readiness for the implementation of restorative policing
Youth Profiles of Police-Initiated Post-Traumatic Stress Symptomatology
Supportive Neighborhoods, Family Resilience and Flourishing in Childhood and Adolescence
Flourishing is linked with health and well-being in childhood and adulthood. This study applied a promotive factors model to examine how neighborhood assets might benefit child and adolescent flourishing by promoting family resilience. Using data from the combined 2018 and 2019 National Survey of Children's Health, structural equation models tested direct and indirect relationships between neighborhood physical environment, neighborhood social co…
Social cohesion, mutual efficacy and informal social control: Collective efficacy and community-based crime prevention
A Psychometric Evaluation of the Mutual Efficacy Scale: Factor Structure, Convergent, and Divergent Validity
Mutual efficacy refers to group members’ beliefs that collective action will be successful at achieving group goals. The primary purpose of mutual efficacy is to increase the effectiveness of interventions aimed at facilitating collective actions in communities. The present study builds on previous mutual efficacy research by examining the psychometric properties of a mutual efficacy scale. Findings suggest that the mutual efficacy scale represen…
Social Ties and Collective Efficacy as Predictors of Volunteering
Volunteering has been defined as any activity to which (1) an individual devotes their free time; and (2) a second person or group receives a benefit (Wilson, 2000). This definition includes a larg
Empowerment and collective efficacy: Insights for community-based crime prevention
The current climate surrounding policing in the United States indicates a need to develop more community-based solutions to crime in order to create a more just society. Collective efficacy theory is a widely studied framework that explores how communities mobilize to address crime through informal social control. Though collective efficacy is associated with lower levels of crime, research suggests that developing effective interventions based o…
Police behaviors and procedural justice: Testing predictors of police-initiated post-traumatic stress symptoms
Mutual Efficacy, Self-Efficacy, and Collective Efficacy Theory: An Examination of Empowerment and Activism
Empowerment refers to the ways in which individuals and groups gain greater control over their lives. To date, the majority of studies focus on empowerment at the individual level. Further, research typically focuses on how to make people feel empowered and not how communities exercise their power. The present study utilizes collective efficacy, a community-level theory, to explore community characteristics that may empower individuals to engage …
The Multilevel Factor Structure of Social Cohesion, Mutual Efficacy, and Informal Social Control: A Case for Practice-Informed Research
Collective efficacy is the process by which social cohesion is activated as informal social control. Mutual efficacy, the perceived capability of the community, mediates the relationship between the two constructs. Interventions based on collective efficacy have a positive impact on individuals but are limited in their ability to affect the broader community. A possible explanation for this finding is that community-level theories operate differe…
Assessing the emotional and behavioral impact of community and extra curricular activities, police contact, and collective efficacy among youth
A broad body of research suggests that interactions with the police can have a negative impact on emotional and behavioral outcomes among youth. Therefore, developing interventions that simultaneously reduce youth involvement in criminalized activities and promote positive outcomes for youth are foundational to creating a just society. The present study examines the emotional and behavioral impact that police contact, community and extracurricula…
Injustice is Ahistorical: A Case Study of St. Louis
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of historical context in social work practice, research, and teaching. Understanding the evolution of racist policies and practices is necessary for developing antiracist practices that promote racial equity. Using St. Louis as a case study, the manuscript describes how racist policies and practices evolved over time between the 1900s and 1970s. These policies and practices will be examin…
The Emotional and Behavioral Impact of Social Connections and Observant Adults in the Neighborhood, School, and Family on Youth
Community-based crime prevention and neighborhood activism: Testing the mediational role of mutual efficacy and neighboring in collective efficacy theory
Psychology (20 works) · Collective efficacy (16 works) · Social Psychology (15 works) · Sociology (15 works) · Community Health and Development (11 works) · Political science (11 works) · Social Psychology (11 works) · Crime Patterns and Interventions (10 works) · Homelessness and Social Issues (9 works) · Criminology (8 works)