This article explores the topic of adulthood within children's literature. Because adults author, illustrate, and produce children's literature, adults construct what childhood looks like, as well as the degree of diverse representation within children's texts. The varied, and sometimes conflicting, depictions of child characters reveal the…

The human brain is plastic -- which means the brain changes its connectivity and even its structure in response to learning. This brief report highlights the following points: (1) A human's first learning experiences are foundational for later education, and experiences in the early years of life can greatly impact on later achievement; (2) Waves…

Researchers contend that committing to an inspiring purpose in life is an important component of healthy identity development for adolescents; however, little research has focused on how identity and purpose develop together. Therefore, the study followed a sample of eight adolescent purpose exemplars for five years in order to develop a grounded…

In this autobiographical journey through life-span developmental theory, the author reflects on her life as a player, embedding it in the context of Erik Erikson and Joan Erikson's stages of human development. The author builds on these basic ideas--theory, storytelling, play, and development--and defines them as simply as possible.

This viewpoint discusses the history of Jessica Park, a professional artist who is an adult with autism. The narrative was constructed from historical descriptive research conducted by the author using published accounts and interviews with the artist, her mother, and two childhood companions. Examples of artwork produced in elementary through…

In this article, the author writes lyrically of the struggle of young people to find meaning and hope in an increasingly secular world, and focuses his discussion on potential roles for adults "who are in serious life-shaping relationships with young people. . . to recognize and respond to the spiritual development of young people." The…

Adolescents of diverse ethnic background (n=201) reported whether they considered any adult other than their parents to be a very important person (VIP) in their lives and described attributes of the VIP and their relationship. Girls were more likely to have a VIP. Differences in VIP attributes were associated with adolescents' psychosocial…

Substantial differences among late adolescents who possessed different levels of satisfaction with life showed up in relation to leisure time enjoyment, religious involvement, health, friendships, and personal efficacy. Almost one-third of the sample studied had not come through their adolescences feeling good about their lives. (Author/GC)

Data from 45 men and 46 women explored early adolescence satisfaction, high school satisfaction and physical attractiveness, and social mobility and satisfaction. Subjects rated high on the use of denial reported higher levels of retrospective life satisfaction. (Author/NRB)

Examines changes in attitude toward traditional morality accompanying the change from adolescence to adulthood. Finds that while the transition to adulthood involved changes in attitude, these shifts were not consistent in nature. (FMW)