Adolescence is often viewed in Western cultures as a time of rebellion and irresponsibility. In this article, I synthesize recent research on stereotypes of adolescence that uses an interdisciplinary approach, integrating developmental psychology, cultural psychology, and neuroscience. I first discuss empirical evidence on cultural differences in…

This study investigated ethnic-racial identity (ERI) developmental processes (i.e., exploration and resolution) as pathways for adolescents to develop global bicultural competence, or the ability to meet heritage and host cultural demands. The sample included 749 U.S. Mexican-origin youth (30% Mexico-born; 51% male) followed from early-to-late…

Early adverse experiences can hold lasting influence on later life outcomes, particularly during formative developmental periods such as adolescence. The current study evaluates the impact of different kinds of adolescent trauma on later sense of purpose in adulthood, using data from the Hawaii Longitudinal Study of Personality and Health.…

Autonomy (or self-determination) is a crucial construct in understanding adolescents' development and well-being. This paper presents current knowledge about the features of autonomy in learning, parental autonomy support, and psychological control, and their relations with psychological well-being and academic functioning of Chinese adolescents.…

This paper explores one of the elements of doing philosophy with young people. Richard (Mort) Morehouse argues that there is something unique about the ways that some adolescents and young adults struggle with a set of philosophical issues. To explore philosophy with adolescents and young adults is to recognize and to build on some of the…

The purpose of this study is to present a cross-cultural description of responses to the Adolescent Intermediate Concepts Measure (hereafter the AD-ICM). Since the introduction of the AD-ICM, the measure has been used multiple times in the US, in The Republic of Macedonia, Taiwan, and the UK. Focusing on these data, the proposed paper session…

In Europe, the question of identity and youth civic engagement constitutes a challenge both for the European Union (EU) and for research on adolescent psychology. In this article, we discuss the European historical context and the current initiatives from the EU that aim to encourage civic engagement among young people. Then, we suggest some…

How important is the role that the different social institutions play in adolescents' emotional development? This study alludes to the social capital framework to explain the influence that the family, school and peer relations have on the social-emotional competencies (SEC) of adolescents, immigrants and locals living in Southeastern Spain. Three…

This study investigated whether the associations between (a) the quality of the parent-child relationship and peer acceptance and (b) early adolescents' life satisfaction differed depending on the importance of family values in the respective culture. As part of the Value of Children Study, data from a subsample of N = 1,034 adolescents (58%…

An American sociologist who grew up in the Netherlands, Amy Schalet digs deep into cultural values about adolescent sexuality to explain the reasons for the vast disparities between American and Dutch sexual health indicators. This article reviews the book's key conclusions and discusses their implications for parents, educators, and policy…

Middle school is a time of many changes for young adolescents. They are "searching for individual identity, struggling with society's norms, and grappling with moral issues." They are changing and maturing physically, cognitively, socially, and psychologically as they develop their identities; establish, maintain, and end friendships and social…

Peer relations are perceived to be more strongly related to family relationships for Israeli Arab and Druze adolescents than for Israeli Jewish adolescents growing up in a neighboring but socioculturally different society. However, when family relations are poor, Jewish adolescents draw greater support from peers than do Arab and Druze adolescents.

The National Capital Region (NCR) is home to more than one-and-a-half million children and youth (ages birth through 24 years). Although the NCR is known as a place with a highly transient population, if history is any guide, many of these young people will remain in this region and fundamentally shape the quality of life--not only for themselves,…

Little information is available on the smoking behavior of young people in developing countries and how such data would compare with data on smoking behavior of young people in the United States. Historical and sociological data were examined to compare the smoking behavior of adolescents in the Republic of China with the smoking behavior of…

Discusses Lesley Beake's novel "Song of Be," a novel set in Namibia that focuses on the life of Be, an adolescent girl who is dealing with abandonment, reconciliation, and personal and cultural identity. Notes that the book presents a culture very different from that of young American readers but recounts growth and development which is…