The decline of the socialist governments in Eastern and Central Europe and the resulting political and economic reorganizations of the 1990s provided a dramatic illustration of the far-reaching effects of social change. For those interested in the health and well-being of youth, such instances of social upheaval raise the question of how young people are affected socially and psychologically by societal changes, and whether their development is compromised or enhanced. This important volume considers the processes through which societal changes exert an impact on the course of adolescent development and identify individual and contextual factors that can modify the impact of social change and enhance the likelihood of a successful transition to adulthood.

This edited textbook will be appropriate for use in advanced undergraduate and graduate level courses and will serve as a comprehensive and timely introduction to the field of adolescent development, providing students with a strong foundation for understanding the biological, cognitive and psychosocial transitions occurring during adolescence. While certain normative biological and cognitive processes are relevant for all youth, development varies dramatically based on a youth's position in society. The volume will focus on contextual factors such as culture, racial identity, socioeconomic position and sociopolitical and historical events, highlighting the impact such factors have on the physiological and psychological processes and treating them as key elements in understanding development during this life stage. The authors will cover the major theoretical positions (both historical and contemporary) about adolescence as well as the relevant research and application. Additionally, modern phenomena - the ever-increasing influence of pop culture (i.e. Hip Hop), mass media and technology (i.e., the internet, gaming) and the evolution of family, education and the church - will be explored in depth. Each chapter will be written by a known expert in the field. More extensive analysis of cultural, political and socioeconomic factors impacting development than competing texts Research-to-Practice section covers evidence-based research on practice implementation

The influence of the lifespan approach has been an important feature of recent research in developmental psychology, as has a growing interest in the relationship between personality and development. This important new book, edited by two distinguished psychologists, explores the relationship between personality and development from a life-course perspective. The book presents current theoretical approaches and new empirical findings from ongoing studies conducted by leading researchers in North America and Europe. It is unique in focussing on successful personality development, where developmental psychology in the past seems to have focussed almost entirely on problem behaviour and risk of maladaption. The book has a multidisciplinary appeal and will be of interest to students and researchers in the fields of developmental psychology, adult development and aging, and personality and social psychology.

Growing Points in Developmental Science is an ISSBD publication based on the millennium symposia papers published in the International Journal of Behavioral Development in 2000. This collection of overview chapters summarises the state of the art and the way forward for this discipline. Experienced researchers as well as younger, cutting-edge scientists have contributed to this international collection. The topics range from early experience to old age, and include issues in both social and cognitive development. Particular interests are investigated, such as the biological substrates of behavioural development, early experiences in terms of both basic and applied science, and cross-cultural contexts of development. Personality, knowledge and the acquisition of memory are also considered. In each case, the authors survey the history and traditions that have marked their research areas, as well as the current status and outlook. Growing Points in Developmental Science represents expert wisdom rooted in a bird's eye view of the trends and controversies that have helped to shape the discipline, its contributions to science and its application. It is intended as a resource for scientists of different generations interested in developmental science, and will appeal to advanced students and young investigators as well as seasoned researchers.

The life stage of adolescence now occurs in most corners of the world, but it takes different forms in different regions. Peers, with such a central role in Western adolescence, play a comparatively minor role in the lives of Arabic and South Asian adolescents. Emotional turmoil and individuation from family occur in some societies but not others. Adolescent sexual revolutions are sweeping through Japan and Latin America. In this 2002 book, scholars from eight regions of the world describe the distinct nature of adolescence in their regions. They draw on research to address standard topics regarding this age - family and peer relationships, schooling, preparation for work, physical and mental health - and show how these have a different cast across societies. As a whole, the book depicts how rapid global change is dramatically altering the experience of the adolescent transition, creating opportunities and challenges for adolescents, parents, teachers, and concerned others.

The lives of youth with disabilities have changed radically in the past fifty years. Youth who are coming of age right now are the first generation to receive educational services throughout childhood and adolescence. Disability policies have opened up opportunities to youth, and they have responded by getting higher levels of education than ever before. Yet many youth are being left behind, compared to their peers without disabilities. Youth with disabilities often still face major obstacles to independence. In Their Time Has Come, Valerie Leiter argues that there are crucial missing links between federal disability policies and the lives of young people. Youth and their parents struggle to gather information about the resources that disability policies have created, and youth are not typically prepared to use their disability rights effectively. Her argument is based on thorough examination of federal disability policy and interviews with young people with disabilities, their parents, and rehabilitation professionals. Attention is given to the diversity of expectations, the resources available to them, and the impact of federal policy and public and private attitudes on their transition to adulthood.