Introduction: The Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) identifies innate moral foundations that drive moral judgment, and are assumed to mature at different phases throughout development. However, core developmental aspects of moral foundations, such as normative age and gender differences from an MFT perspective, remain relatively unexplored,…

Identity formation is an essential developmental challenge associated with adolescence ([17], [20] and [21]). Berzonsky (1988) developed a social-cognitive model that distinguishes three styles by which adolescents engage the tasks associated with identity formation: informational, normative, and diffuse-avoidant. Focusing on studies (K = 62) that…

This study examined the levels and growth of specific and general normative beliefs about nonviolence (called norms for nonviolence). The sample consisted of 1254 middle school students from four metropolitan areas who participated in the control condition of the Multisite Violence Prevention Project. We predicted that the association and…

Reviews evidence on development of competence in decision making during adolescence focusing on cognitive aspects. Discusses indicators of competence: choice, comprehension, creativity, compromise, consequentiality, correctness, credibility, consistency, and commitment. Evidence suggests that many adolescents show reliable level of competence in…

Notes that adolescent sexual abusers face developmental issues different from those of adults. Argues that specific needs of adolescent sexual abuser cannot by fully understood by simply extrapolating knowledge derived from work with adult perpetrators. Discusses importance of developmental issues facing adolescent perpetrator of sexual abuse and…

Examined research involving over 3,000 adolescents from various cultures to determine problems typical of this developmental phase and ways of coping with normative demands. Found that adolescents' response to problems stemming from different developmental fields such as parents, peers, school, or future involved three main modes of coping: Active…

Secondary school students (N=12,988) completed Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status and questionnaire assessing experience with cigarettes, inhalants, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Discriminant analyses of substance use, across achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, and diffusion identity statuses, yielded significant functions for…

Examined changes with age in ethnic identity and self-esteem. Assessed 18 adolescents from 3 ethnic groups (Asian American, African American, Hispanic) at ages 16 and 19. Found significant change to higher stages of ethnic identity over three-year period. Self-esteem and ethnic identity were significantly related to each other at each time period…

Examined ethnicity, gender, and grade as potential mediating factors of early adolescent identity development. Administered Extended Objective Measure of Ego Identity Status to 367 seventh- and eighth-graders. Results showed instrument appropriate for use with early adolescents. Females and older students were more developmentally sophisticated…

Examined role of close relationships during adolescence and their contribution to individual coping. Data from series of studies on early adolescents showed that availability of family and peers combined with support of adolescent's independence contributed to individual adaptive coping. Contribution of close relationships to coping differed for…

Australian secondary students completed questionnaires on adolescent coping behavior. Found that older students used more self-blame and tension-reduction techniques than did younger students; young students used more work-related strategies than did older students; males reported using more physical recreation than did females; and females used…

Focal theory is a framework for looking at psychosocial and leisure transitions in middle and later adolescence. Using cross-sectional survey data, found few gender differences in age-related relational transitions, but gender differences were apparent in shifting focuses of leisure involvement with age. Findings suggest a linkage between…

Proposes a developmental pattern to understand interpersonal forgiveness. Responses to questions by 30 junior high students and 30 college students indicate that all participants had recently experienced serious and unfair conflicts with close friends. Results support a developmental sequence and show a statistical relationship between…

Surveyed 547 11-year-olds concerning future hopes and worries. Re-surveyed subjects 3 years later and conducted interviews with 152 of the now 14-year-olds. Worries about employment and nuclear war appeared to predominate throughout adolescence, while proportions of students worried about unemployment, own mortality, lack of money, and Acquired…

Subjects in grades 4, 7, 10, college, and adulthood completed forgiveness interview assessing 6 stages of forgiveness development, Rest's Defining Issues Tests measure of justice development, and religiosity scale. Found strong age trends for forgiveness and justice. Second study replicated findings, supporting view that individuals' understanding…