Over 5,000 high-school students of different social, religious, and national backgrounds were studied to show the effects of family experience, neighborhoods, minority groups, etc. on their self-image and response to society. Originally published in 1965. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Examines the development of self-image in both normal and disturbed adolescents. Illustrates the differences between normal boys' and girls' self-images and the distinct patterns of self-image and symptomatology that characterize various type of disturbed adolescents.

A Cross-National Study of Adolescent Self-Image Adolescence is not, as has been previously assumed, a developmental stage that was defined after the industrial revolution. There is substan tial historical evidence to suggest that adolescence and youth, as a stage, was recognized by the ancient Romans, Greeks, and even Egyp tians. The concept survived through the Dark Ages. In Le Grand Pro prietaire, written in 1556, it is stated: "The third age, which is called adolescence, . . . ends in the twenty-first year . . . and it can go on till thirty or thirty-five. The age is called adolescence because the person is big enough to beget children. In this age the limbs are soft and able to grow and receive strength and vigor from natural heat" (Aries, 1962, p. 21). The span of years devoted to adolescent development varies in different cultures and with different definitions. The term adolescence is no longer equivalent to pubescence. "Adolescence" is a psycho social-biological stage of development that corresponds to changes in many areas which accompany the transition from childhood to adult hood. The working definition of adolescence we use is the stage of life that starts with puberty and ends at the time when the person has attained a reasonable degree of independence from his parents. Once in high school or its equivalent, the vast majority of teenagers have al ready undergone the biological changes of puberty.

Addresses adolescent identity issues and suggests practical approaches to facilitate development and adjustment.

Selfesteem is very important in modern and contemporary Western psychology. This concept has had a profound influence on personality, social psychology, and crosscultural studies. Self-esteem is an important construct that underlies and often helps to explain human thoughts, feelings, and behavior. This book discusses the perspectives and influences of self-esteem, and provides a review on improvement strategies for those who suffer from low self-esteem.