More About Us

Smart Discipline is an online resource founded by Dr. Oscar Barbarin to provide evidence-based strategies and insights for supporting the positive development of boys of color.

With a foundation in over 45 years of research and clinical practice, this platform is dedicated to addressing the unique challenges these young men face and promoting their emotional resilience and growth.

Meet Dr. Oscar A. Barbarin

Oscar A. Barbarin, Ph.D. is a Professor of African American Studies and Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. He trained as a clinical psychologist at Rutgers University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in social psychology at Stanford University. He is also a Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Social Work at the University of Michigan. He has over 45 years of experience as a therapist and researcher of social and emotional development of boys of color.

Dr. Barbarin is dedicated to understanding the complexities of child development, particularly among African American youth, and addressing systemic inequalities through innovative research and practical solutions.

Dr. Barbarin’s work draws upon clinical, cultural, social, and developmental perspectives. His scholarly activity focuses on:

Development and Behavioral Problems of Achievement Gaps

Exploring the way family and cultural assets mediate the effects of trauma, implicit biases on conditional adaptation, achievement, and resilience of African American youth.

Cross National Research on Child Development

Examining relationships of ethnicity, culture, poverty, and violence to development of children of African descent.

Culturally Sensitive Methods for Early Detection and Prevention

Design of methods for early detection and prevention of emotional and behavioral problems of children of color.

Efforts to Eliminate Exclusion of Black Boys from School

Examination of national, state, and district level data on school exclusion disparities, with a focus on eliminating in-school and out-of-school suspensions.

Dr. Barbarin’s work draws upon clinical, cultural, social, and developmental perspectives.
His scholarly activity focuses on:

Development of Behavioral Problems and Achievement Gaps

Exploring the way family and cultural assets mediate the effects of trauma, implicit biases on conditional adaptation, achievement, and resilience of African American youth.

Cross National Research on Child Development

Examining relationships of ethnicity, culture, poverty, and violence to development of children of African descent, particularly in South Africa and the United States.

Culturally Sensitive Methods for Early Detection and Prevention

Design of methods for early detection and prevention of emotional and behavioral problems of children of color.

Efforts to eliminate exclusion of black boys from school

Examination of national, state, and district level data on school exclusion disparities, with a focus on eliminating in-school and out-of-school suspensions.

Dr. Barbarin’s Legacy

With the support and funding from federal agencies and private foundations, Dr. Barbarin has been the principal investigator on numerous studies that have focused on the socio-emotional and academic development of boys of color.

30-Year Longitudinal Study (Birth-to-30 Project)

Dr. Barbarin’s work on children of African descent extends to a 30-year longitudinal study of the effects of poverty and violence on child development in Gauteng, a province in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Covid-19 Pandemic Research

Dr. Barbarin’s recent publications investigate the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restorative Justice Practices in Schools

Dr. Barbarin’s research examines the effectiveness of schools in making the empathetic shift from punishment to supportive practices for troubled students.

Publications

Dr. Barbarin has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles on the social-emotional development of black boys that illuminate how their families, schools, and communities moderate the effects of adversity on the development of children, particularly boys of color.

Dr. Barbarin has written seven books, including:

1. Institutional Racism and Community Competence (1981) US Department of Health and Human Services, Government Printing Office
2. Childhood Cancer and the Family: Meeting the Challenge of Stress and Social Support (1987) Brunzer-Mazel
3. Mandela’s Children: Child Development in Apartheid South Africa (2001) Routledge
4. Handbook of Child Development and Early Education: Research to Practice (2009) Guilford Press
5. Emotional Resilience of Black Boys and Youth: Building Social Assets to Overcome Racism and Adversity (2025) Oxford University Press
6. Smart Discipline: How Effective Districts Tackle Misbehavior and Keep Students Learning (2025) HiPoint Press
7. Building Emotional Resilience in Black Boys : How Families, Schools and Neighborhoods Protect against Racism, Poverty and Adversity. (2025) Oxford University Press

“Boys thrive most when they have a network of caring people, compassionate control and guidance, and a sense of purpose and meaning.”

Dr. Oscar A. Barbarin, Ph.D.

Awards and Recognitions

Dr. Barbarin’s dedication to public service, research, and mentoring has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards and leadership roles in key psychological and child development organizations. He is included among prominent researchers and designated as a pillar of developmental science.

Awards

Distinguished Contribution to Understanding International, Cultural, and Contextual Diversity in Child Development
Awarded by the American Psychological Association for his work in advancing the global understanding of diversity in child development.

Leadership Roles

Editor, American Journal of Orthopsychiatry (2009-2014)
Dr. Barbarin served as Editor of the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, shaping the journal’s contributions to the field for over five years.
Governing Council, Society for Research in Child Development (2007-2013)
Dr. Barbarin served on the Governing Council of the Society for Research in Child Development, where he helped guide critical decisions in child development research.
Executive Board, International Union of Psychological Sciences
Elected to the Executive Board of the International Union of Psychological Sciences, Dr. Barbarin represented psychology at the global level.
Chair, US National Committee for Psychology
Appointed by the National Academies of Science, Dr. Barbarin led the US National Committee for Psychology, advancing national and international initiatives in the field.

Connect with Dr. Barbarin on LinkedIn to stay updated on leadership insights and research shaping the future of boys’ development.