John Chapin, professor of communications at Penn State Beaver, is the author of an article, “As Seen on TV! Third-Person Perception in the ER,” which was published in the Nov. 13 edition of the Communication Annual.
The article explores third-person perception among medical professionals who believe others are more influenced than they are by media depictions of domestic abuse and violent crime. Chapin has conducted extensive research in the areas of domestic abuse, sexual and criminal violence, and youth and adult perceptions of these crimes. He frequently works with the staff and clients at Pittsburgh’s Crisis Center North, which provides support and services for victims of abuse and violence, and is a longtime proponent of victims’ rights.
He received the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus Certificate, awarded by Congressman Jim Costa and Congressman Ted Poe, co-chairs of the Congressional Victims' Rights Caucus, for work on behalf of victims of crime. Chapin also received the Outstanding Citizenship Award presented by Beaver County District Attorney Anthony Berosh in recognition of his service to Beaver County law enforcement. In addition, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett named Chapin the recipient of the Governor’s Victim Service Pathfinder Organizational Capacity Building Award, which is awarded as part of the Western Regional Training Initiative subcommittee.
In the past, Chapin has received citations from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives for his research and volunteer work on behalf of domestic violence victims through providing domestic violence prevention and awareness programs. He has also received a variety of campus awards, including the Penn State Beaver Advisory Board/NOVA Chemicals Inc. Faculty Excellence in Service Award.
Chapin can be contacted at jrc11@psu.edu or 724-773-3877.