The MacArthur Neighborhood Study was one of several studies funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation investigating the successful development of children and youth growing up in high-risk neighborhoods. This one was carried out in Denver and Chicago. The Figure shows the influence of various social contexts-neighborhood, family, school, peers-and of individual attributes on different youth development outcomes. Neighborhood effects were generally quite small, family effects were, with one exception, typically the largest. That exception involved the problem behavior success outcomes where the effects of the peer group are as strong or stronger than those of the family, and family effects were quite modest. Both family and peer effects were as great or greater than the effects of individual attributes. This study also demonstrated that the effects of these various social contexts and of individual attributes were independent and additive.