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Debbie Peterson

About

Debbie Peterson was the first directly elected female mayor of Grover Beach, California, after serving as a city councilwoman and planning commissioner. The first book in her Integrity 101 Series, best-selling The Happiest Corruption: Sleaze, Lies, and Suicide in a California Beach Town, chronicles the corruption she and citizens battled when she was in office. Also in the series are City Council 101 — Insider's Guide for New Councilmembers, We the People 101 — How to Beat City Hall, and online course, Double Dais, Adventures in Local Government.

Debbie equips citizens and those they elect to take up their roles in their government of the people, by the people, and for the people, through speaking, consulting, and coaching, and her podcast, Corruption Chronicles.

Debbie studied journalism and radio-TV at California State University, Fresno, before completing a BSc in communications (public relations) at the University of Idaho, and an Entrepreneurship course at the Scottish Business School, Glasgow University.

Books by Debbie Peterson
Recent Posts
Lies, whether socially or vindictively motivated, isolate the liar from others.
Honesty Project Reveals New Truths About Misinformation

A three-year study expands the science of honesty with surprising discoveries about agreeableness, new negative impacts on misinformants, and the most powerful interventions.

A three-year study expands the science of honesty with surprising discoveries about agreeableness, new negative impacts on misinformants, and the most powerful interventions.

How to Shine a Light on Gaslighting and Turn It Off

Gaslighting is a commonly used, but not commonly understood term. Knowing its characteristics and how to address them can lessen harmful effects.

Gaslighting is a commonly used, but not commonly understood term. Knowing its characteristics and how to address them can lessen harmful effects.

When Guilt Is Good

After all these years of lamenting Catholic Guilt vs. Jewish Guilt now Chinese and California psychologists tell us maybe it's for the best.

After all these years of lamenting Catholic Guilt vs. Jewish Guilt now Chinese and California psychologists tell us maybe it's for the best.

When It Comes to Corruption Appearances Matter

When politicians steal from the public purse, it's bad; but psychologists and the courts agree it's the psychological effects of corruption that are most harmful.

When politicians steal from the public purse, it's bad; but psychologists and the courts agree it's the psychological effects of corruption that are most harmful.