Personality and Roles: Sources of Regularities in Social Behavior For behavioral scientists, whether they identify primarily with the science of psychology or with that of sociology, there may be no challenge greater than that of discovering regularities and consistencies in social behavior. After all, it is such regularities and consistencies that lend predictability to the behavior of individuals in social contexts-in particular, to those events that constitute dyadic interactions and group processes. In the search for behavioral consistencies, two theoretical constructs have emerged as guiding principles: personality and roles. The theoretical construct of personality seeks to understand regularities and consistencies in social behavior in terms of relatively stable traits, enduring dispositions, and other propensities (for example, needs, motives, and attitudes) that are thought to reside within individuals. Because it focuses primarily on the features of individuals, the construct of personality is fundamentally psychological in nature. By contrast, the theoretical construct of roles seeks to understand regularities and consistencies in social behavior in terms of the directive influence of coherent sets of rules and prescriptions that are provided by the interpersonal, occupational, and societal categories of which individuals are continuing members. Because it focuses primarily on features of social structures, the construct of roles is fundamentally sociological in nature.

Kenneth Maurice Tyler identifies and describes the multiple identity components of young African American men using theoretical and empirical literatures from education and the social sciences. Identity and African American Men: Exploring the Content of Our Characterization provides a comprehensive, research-based account of the ideologies and mindsets of many young African American men. The book critically discusses eight identity components that young African American men begin to negotiate during their adolescent years. These identity components include gender, sexual, racial, ethnic, cultural, socioeconomic, athletic, and academic identity. Identity and African American Men makes a unique contribution to the literature by offering a conceptual framework that identifies the multiple identity components possessed by young African American men. Such a framework expands the conversation about African American men and their behaviors by broadening the understanding of who these individuals are, the identities they possess, and how their identity-based attitudes and orientations may influence the behaviors exhibited by them.

What are the major self and identity concerns for early adolescents? What are the applications and interventions that can address those concerns, helping to ease the transition into later adolescence and adulthood? Providing a broad and interdisciplinary approach to studying the self, the contributors emphasize the practical implications of their work for understanding early adolescent self and identity and for designing interventions that facilitate development and adjustment. The book consists of four major sections, in which contributors address conceptual issues, school transitions, peer and behavioral problems, and intervention programs.

The Agony of Education is about the life experience of African American students attending a historically white university. Based on seventy-seven interviews conducted with black students and parents concerning their experiences with one state university, as well as published and unpublished studies of the black experience at state universities at large, this study captures the painful choices and agonizing dilemmas at the heart of the decisions African Americans must make about higher education.

Past injustice against racial groups rings out throughout history and negatively affects today’s society. Not only do people hold onto negative perceptions, but government processes and laws have remnants of these past ideas that impact people today. To enact change and promote justice, it is essential to recognize the generational trauma experienced by these groups. The Research Anthology on Racial Equity, Identity, and Privilege analyzes the impact that past racial inequality has on society today. This book discusses the barriers that were created throughout history and the ways to overcome them and heal as a community. Covering topics such as critical race theory, transformative change, and intergenerational trauma, this three-volume comprehensive major reference work is a dynamic resource for sociologists, community leaders, government officials, policymakers, education administration, preservice teachers, students and professors of higher education, justice advocates, researchers, and academicians.