Peter C. Scales, Ph.D. - Senior Fellow

Professional Expertise

Dr. Scales is a developmental psychologist, researcher, author, and speaker who is an internationally recognized authority on the positive development of children and youth. With the late Dr. Peter L. Benson, he became the world’s leading researcher on the role of Developmental Assets in the lives of children and youth. His expertise is child and adolescent development, and the development of healthy families, schools, and communities where children and youth can thrive.

Contributions to Search Institute

Dr. Scales has led or been a senior researcher on all of Search Institute’s major U.S. and international research studies since joining Search Institute as a Senior Fellow in 1995. He has created or helped develop all the Institute’s major surveys on Developmental Assets, spiritual development, adolescent thriving and sparks, positive school climate, and service-learning. He leads national and international research studies; provides consultation on youth development to schools, youth-serving organizations, foundations, and governmental agencies, among others; publishes widely on child and youth development; represents Search Institute to media, and delivers conference keynote addresses.

Major Publications

Dr. Scales is the author of 10 books, more than 75 peer-reviewed articles, and more than 200 other publications, including more than 30 peer-reviewed chapters, including the first-ever chapter on positive youth development in the prestigious Handbook of Child Psychology (2006, 6th ed).

Journal publications include: American Psychologist, Journal of Research on Adolescence, Applied Developmental Science, Journal of Youth & Adolescence, American Journal of Sexuality Education, Child Indicators Research, Journal of Community Psychology, Journal of Positive Psychology, Journal of Adolescence, Journal of Early Adolescence, Middle School Journal, Urban Education, Journal of Primary Prevention, the National Association of Secondary School Principals Bulletin, American School Board Journal, Journal of Experiential Education, Journal of School Health, Journal of Sex Education and Therapy, Journal of Sex Research, Journal of Current Adolescent Medicine, Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality, and Journal of Health Education.

Dr. Scales has also served as a manuscript reviewer or editorial board member for dozens of journals over the last 35 years, including many of the above as well as Child Welfare, Family Relations, the Journal of Adolescent Research, and Developmental Psychology. Books and major reports include:

  • Lead author, Do Developmental Assets Make a Difference in Majority-World Contexts? A Preliminary Study of the Relationships between Developmental Assets and International Development Priorities (Report to the U.S. Agency for International Development, 2012).

  • Co-author, A Fragile Foundation: The State of Developmental Assets among American Youth, 2nd ed. (Search Institute, 2011)

  • Co-author, Great Places to Learn: How Asset-Building Schools Help Students Succeed, 2nd ed.(Search Institute, 2006)

  • Lead author, Developmental Assets: A Synthesis of the Scientific Research on Adolescent Development, 2nd. ed. (Search Institute, 2004)

  • Lead author, Coming into Their Own: How Developmental Assets Promote Positive Growth in Middle Childhood (Search Institute, 2004)

  • Lead author, Other People’s Kids: Social Expectations and American Adults’ Involvement with Children and Adolescents (Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2003)

  • Lead author, Growing Pains: The Making of America’s Middle School Teachers (National Middle School Association, 1994)

  • A Portrait of Young Adolescents in the 1990s (Search Institute/Center for Early Adolescence, 1991)

  • The Front Lines of Sexuality Education (Network Publications, 1984)

  • Co-author, The Sexual Adolescent: Communicating with Teenagers About Sex (Duxbury Press, 1979)

    Professional History

    Before joining Search Institute in 1995, Dr. Scales was deputy director, and director of national initiatives for the Center for Early Adolescence, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Former positions include:

  • Chair, Alaska Governor’s Commission on Children and Youth

  • Director, Anchorage Center for Families

  • Director of education, Planned Parenthood Federation of America

  • Director, Colorado Adolescent Health Task Force

  • Senior social scientist, Mathtech, Inc. (a division of Mathematica), Bethesda, Maryland

  • Research director, Syracuse University’s Institute for Family Research and Education

    • Consultations

    Dr. Scales has been a consultant and keynote speech-maker for more than 250 organizations and agencies, including: the U.S. Office of Safe & Drug-Free Schools, the National Governors’ Association, the Association for Middle Level Education (formerly the National Middle School Association), American School Health Association, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Association of Child Advocates, Public/Private Ventures, Children’s Television Workshop, National Conference of State Legislatures, National Council on Family Relations, National Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy and Parenting, Ounce of Prevention Fund, American Camping Association, U. S. Catholic Conference, YMCA of the USA, and the Carter Presidential Center.

    Education

  • Ph.D. and M.S. in child development and family relations, Syracuse University

  • A.B., honors, in psychology, Syracuse University

    • Selected Awards and Honors

  • Who’s Who in America. Invited biography in the original Marquis Who’s Who listing of notable Americans (2011).

  • Hedley S. Dimock Award—presented annually by the American Camping Association to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to youth development from a field related to outdoor programs (1997.

  • Educational Press Association of America Award for Excellence in Educational Journalism—honoring contribution to “Sexuality Education” issue of Educational Theory into Practice(1989).

  • U.S. Administration for Children, Youth and Families Commissioner Award—honoring “exceptional efforts to prevent child abuse, and a spirit which is an inspiration to others” (1988.

  • Named one of “America’s Visionaries” for Children by the National Association of Child Advocates (1988.

    • Media Coverage

    Dr. Scales has received print, radio, and television coverage in more than 200 U.S cities, national coverage in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, Glamour, Seventeen, Sports Illustrated, and numerous other national publications, as well as appearances on Good Morning America, and international coverage on the Voice of America and BBC Radio.