This Council of Europe report on the problem of violence opens with two recommendations: (1) on cultural and educational means of reducing violence; and (2) on a European Award for Non-Violence. An explanatory memorandum provides a general introduction, and explains the report's focus on terrorism, violence in the media, violence and sport, and…

This study paper discusses (1) changing emphases and current interpretations of child development; (2) the context of family, culture, and education within which children develop; (3) the transition to school; and (4) new issues concerning children, parents, and teachers in society today. Section 1 establishes 1959 as an approximate turning point…

Focusing on a comparison of actual roles with stereotypical roles of tribal women, this unit emphasizes the fact that roles of Indian women of the past were dependent upon tribal customs and living conditions. The narrative section of the unit examines typical roles in Woodland tribes and describes the false information and stereotypes which…

In a discussion of psychological development separate sections are devoted to (1) biological and cultural influences on development, (2) development in infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence, (3) physiological foundations of behavior, (4) motivation and cognitive development, (5) intellectual development, (6) imagination and…

A review of the literature concerning suicide among youth provides information on variations and trends in incidence in terms of age, sex, racial, and national factors. Theories on the etiology of suicide explore social, psychological, socioeconomic, religious, educational, and cultural factors among suicidal adolescents. Various types of…

This digest examines recent literature on factors related to resilience, well-being, and school success for American Indian and Alaska Native students. The characteristics of resilient Native youth are discussed, including the ability to bounce back from adversity, and protective factors that enable high-risk resilient children to avoid negative…

This study explored the meaning of motherhood among Navajo teenagers, their mothers, and community informants living in a small, rural town on a Navajo Reservation. Participating were 8 Navajo teenage mothers ranging from 16 to 19 years, 7 grandmothers (mothers of the teens) who ranged from 41 to 57 years, and 6 community informants: two teachers,…

Noting that success defines the American identity, this ethnographic case study examined the dynamics of culture, spirituality, and success in the lives of three generations of three Cambodian families. The study pursued three research objectives: (1) to challenge the dominance of quantitative measures to judge refugee students' academic success;…

A professional conference exercise for teachers of French as a second language is described, in which participants analyzed the cultural content and linguistic form of headlines in adolescent mass literature. Two examples of this kind of analysis are given. (MSE)

Examined behaviors and personality traits attributed to a "bad kid" by adolescents and mothers of American, Chinese, and Japanese cultures. Five domains of behavior likely to yield cross-cultural differences were society, family, school, interpersonal harmony, and self-control. Adolescents and mothers differed significantly in the…

Investigates the factor structure of a measure of racial socialization attitudes for African American adolescents to determine whether the components of the construct are reliable and measure different phenomena. Four factors, based on research with 200 inner-city adolescents, were found to be very meaningful and moderately reliable. Development…

Describes and evaluates an adolescent health promotion program that uses the Nguzo Saba and African philosophy to address violence and attitudes that reinforce the use of violence. Results from public housing adolescent reports indicate that the Nguzo Saba had a strong, positive influence resulting in fewer delinquent/violent acts. (GR)

Studied influence of close friends, parents, and individual characteristics on adolescent drug use. Found similarity across European-, African-American, and Chinese adolescents in high-sensation-seeking and low-authoritative parenting associated with higher rates of drug use. Close friends had influence on Chinese and European Americans.…

Investigated effects of acculturation on psychological well-being of 588 immigrant 11- to 20-year-olds in Finland. Found that most indices of well-being were negatively related to perceived discrimination, and some were positively related to second-language proficiency. Adolescents' experiences of parental support and adherence to traditional…

Explores the tensions and interactions among four 13-year-old boys in a British secondary classroom. Suggests that the boys subscribe to a hegemonic ideal of masculinity that celebrates autonomy as the individualized rejection of dependence in relationships in school. Relates this to broader changes in available social texts. (MJP)