Paine, Maggie

English

University of New Hampshire

University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository
Media Relations Administrative Offices
1-16-2001
Family Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni
Associations Pettee Medal
Maggie Paine
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/news
This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more
information, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.
Recommended Citation
Paine, Maggie, "Family Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Associations Pettee Medal" (2001). UNH Today. 2378.
https://scholars.unh.edu/news/2378
11/6/17, 11'15 AMFamily Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Association's Pettee Medal
Page 1 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/january/mp_20010116pettee.html
UNH
Alumni
Association
Family Violence Expert to Receive
UNH Alumni Association's Pettee
Medal
By Maggie Paine
UNH Alumni Association
January 16, 2001
DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New Hampshire
Alumni Association will present its highest honor, the
Pettee Medal, to internationally renowned sociologist
Murray Straus on Feb. 9, during a program beginning at
3 p.m. in the Great Bay Room at the New England
Center. 
Straus is a member of the UNH faculty and co-director
of its Family Research Laboratory. In announcing his
selection as the 67th recipient of the Pettee Medal,
Alumni Association President Karen Johnson said,
"Over the past 30 years, Dr. Straus has dedicated
himself to the study of family violence and its
relationship to violence in the larger society, and his
work has become the cornerstone for a whole new field
of sociology. His research has changed the way parents,
educators, social workers, police and lawmakers look at
the 'ordinary' violence that takes place in our homes,
schools and neighborhoods every day."
As part of the Pettee Medal ceremony, Straus will be
interviewed by Ally McNair, host of the New
Hampshire Public Television program NH Outlook, and
Jennifer Crompton, news director at WMUR-TV in
Manchester and a 1982 UNH graduate. They will
discuss Straus's contributions to the study of violence in
the family -- a field he virtually invented -- and the
effects of family violence on individuals, families and
society.
The Charles Holmes Pettee Medal was established in
1940 by the University of New Hampshire Alumni
Association and the Board of Trustees. The medal is
awarded annually to a resident or former resident of
New Hampshire in recognition of outstanding
11/6/17, 11'15 AMFamily Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Association's Pettee Medal
Page 2 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/january/mp_20010116pettee.html
 
accomplishment or distinguished service in any form to
the state, the nation or the world.
"Dr. Straus epitomizes the kind of extraordinary
achievement and distinguished service represented by
the late Charles H. Pettee, for whom the medal is
named, and we are proud to award it to him," Johnson
noted. Pettee served UNH for 62 years as professor and
dean until his death in 1938.
Straus is best known for his development, with
sociologist Richard Gelles, of the Conflict Tactics
Scales, a method of measuring the extent of violence in
the home on the basis of information gathered by
asking family members how they resolve conflicts.
Developed at UNH in 1971, the Conflict Tactics Scales
have been modified over the years and are now used all
over the world.
Straus is the author or co-author of 19 books and 212
papers. Many of his recent works explore the impact of
corporal punishment on children's development and
how corporal punishment influences their use of
violence as adults. His research shows that children
exposed to verbal abuse or physical violence such as
spanking are more likely as adults to abuse alcohol and
drugs, experience depression or commit suicide. He has
long advocated child-rearing practices that rely on
caring, support and consistency to guide behavior,
rather than verbal threats or spanking.
"Beyond his research, Professor Straus has devoted
considerable energy to the mentorship of a generation
of graduate students who have extended his research
and teaching through their work as scholars, teachers
and policy makers," said Elizabeth Crepeau, a UNH
professor and member of the award committee. "I feel
he is especially deserving of the Pettee Medal because
he has articulated the impact of family violence to the
public, policy makers and scholars."
British psychologist and child advocate Penelope Leach
agrees with Straus's conclusions. "His work has been
crucially important to all of us around the world who
work with children's rights," Leach said. "He has led
people to serious research on a topic that, until 10 years
ago, had been ignored. If you believe in the importance
of this issue, Murray Straus is a very, very important
11/6/17, 11'15 AMFamily Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Association's Pettee Medal
Page 3 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/january/mp_20010116pettee.html
guy."
Previous recipients of the medal include television
producer Marcia Peterson Carsey, astronaut Alan
Shepard, former New Hampshire Governor John H.
Sununu and former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.
The program is open to the public. For more
information, call the Alumni Association at (603) 862-
2040 or e-mail: alumni@unh.edu. 
Back to UNH News Bureau
 
 


Family Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Associations Pettee Medal

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices1-16-2001Family Violence Expert to Receive UNH AlumniAssociations Pettee MedalMaggie PaineFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationPaine, Maggie, "Family Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Associations Pettee Medal" (2001). UNH Today. 2378.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/237811/6/17, 11'15 AMFamily Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Association's Pettee MedalPage 1 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/january/mp_20010116pettee.htmlUNHAlumniAssociationFamily Violence Expert to ReceiveUNH Alumni Association's PetteeMedalBy Maggie PaineUNH Alumni AssociationJanuary 16, 2001DURHAM, N.H. -- The University of New HampshireAlumni Association will present its highest honor, thePettee Medal, to internationally renowned sociologistMurray Straus on Feb. 9, during a program beginning at3 p.m. in the Great Bay Room at the New EnglandCenter. Straus is a member of the UNH faculty and co-directorof its Family Research Laboratory. In announcing hisselection as the 67th recipient of the Pettee Medal,Alumni Association President Karen Johnson said,"Over the past 30 years, Dr. Straus has dedicatedhimself to the study of family violence and itsrelationship to violence in the larger society, and hiswork has become the cornerstone for a whole new fieldof sociology. His research has changed the way parents,educators, social workers, police and lawmakers look atthe 'ordinary' violence that takes place in our homes,schools and neighborhoods every day."As part of the Pettee Medal ceremony, Straus will beinterviewed by Ally McNair, host of the NewHampshire Public Television program NH Outlook, andJennifer Crompton, news director at WMUR-TV inManchester and a 1982 UNH graduate. They willdiscuss Straus's contributions to the study of violence inthe family -- a field he virtually invented -- and theeffects of family violence on individuals, families andsociety.The Charles Holmes Pettee Medal was established in1940 by the University of New Hampshire AlumniAssociation and the Board of Trustees. The medal isawarded annually to a resident or former resident ofNew Hampshire in recognition of outstanding11/6/17, 11'15 AMFamily Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Association's Pettee MedalPage 2 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/january/mp_20010116pettee.html accomplishment or distinguished service in any form tothe state, the nation or the world."Dr. Straus epitomizes the kind of extraordinaryachievement and distinguished service represented bythe late Charles H. Pettee, for whom the medal isnamed, and we are proud to award it to him," Johnsonnoted. Pettee served UNH for 62 years as professor anddean until his death in 1938.Straus is best known for his development, withsociologist Richard Gelles, of the Conflict TacticsScales, a method of measuring the extent of violence inthe home on the basis of information gathered byasking family members how they resolve conflicts.Developed at UNH in 1971, the Conflict Tactics Scaleshave been modified over the years and are now used allover the world.Straus is the author or co-author of 19 books and 212papers. Many of his recent works explore the impact ofcorporal punishment on children's development andhow corporal punishment influences their use ofviolence as adults. His research shows that childrenexposed to verbal abuse or physical violence such asspanking are more likely as adults to abuse alcohol anddrugs, experience depression or commit suicide. He haslong advocated child-rearing practices that rely oncaring, support and consistency to guide behavior,rather than verbal threats or spanking."Beyond his research, Professor Straus has devotedconsiderable energy to the mentorship of a generationof graduate students who have extended his researchand teaching through their work as scholars, teachersand policy makers," said Elizabeth Crepeau, a UNHprofessor and member of the award committee. "I feelhe is especially deserving of the Pettee Medal becausehe has articulated the impact of family violence to thepublic, policy makers and scholars."British psychologist and child advocate Penelope Leachagrees with Straus's conclusions. "His work has beencrucially important to all of us around the world whowork with children's rights," Leach said. "He has ledpeople to serious research on a topic that, until 10 yearsago, had been ignored. If you believe in the importanceof this issue, Murray Straus is a very, very important11/6/17, 11'15 AMFamily Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Association's Pettee MedalPage 3 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2001/january/mp_20010116pettee.htmlguy."Previous recipients of the medal include televisionproducer Marcia Peterson Carsey, astronaut AlanShepard, former New Hampshire Governor John H.Sununu and former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop.The program is open to the public. For moreinformation, call the Alumni Association at (603) 862-2040 or e-mail: alumni@unh.edu. Back to UNH News Bureau  

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Family Violence Expert to Receive UNH Alumni Associations Pettee Medal

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