The behavioral sciences-anthropology, sociology, psychology, economics, geography, political science-have reached a turning point as we enter the decade of the 1990s. Freed from a strict emulation of classical science methodology, while benefiting from the remarkable advances in biology and the other "hard" sciences, scholars in the behavioral scie

This third and final volume of Richard Jessor's collected works explores the central role of the social context in the formulation and application of Problem Behavior Theory. It discusses the effect of the social environment, especially the social context of disadvantage and limited opportunity, on adolescent behavior, health, and development. The book examines the application of the theory in social contexts as diverse as the inner cities of the United States; the slums of Nairobi, Kenya; and the urban settings of Beijing, China. It also provides insight into how adolescents and young adults manage to "succeed", despite disadvantage, limited opportunity, and even dangers in their everyday life settings. It illuminates how these youth manage to stay on track in school, avoid unintended pregnancy and dropout, keep clear of the criminal justice system, and remain uninvolved in heavy drug use. In addition, the book discusses the conceptual and methodological issues entailed in engaging the social context, including the role of subjectivity and meaning in an objective behavioral science; the contribution of the perceived environment in determining behavior; the continuity that characterizes adolescent growth and development; the necessity for a social-psychological level of analysis that avoids reductionism; the importance of a framework that engages the larger social environment; and the advantage of adhering to systematic theory for the explanatory generality it yields. Topics featured in this volume include: Home-leaving and its occurrence among youth in impoverished circumstances. The continuity of adolescent developmental change. The impact of neighborhood disadvantage on successful adolescent development. Successful adolescence in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Explaining both behavior and development in the language of social psychology. Problem Behavior Theory and the Social Context is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, clinicians, and related professionals as well as graduate students in sociology, social and developmental psychology, criminology/criminal justice, public health, and allied disciplines.

This second volume of Richard Jessor's influential works applies his groundbreaking theory to illuminating the psychosocial determinants of adolescent health. Focusing on a range of both health-compromising and health-enhancing behaviors, including problem drinking, marijuana use, risky driving, and early sexual experience as well as regular exercise and healthy diet, these writings advance understanding of the role of health behavior in adolescence and adolescent development. Chapters illustrate the relevance of the theory and of its interdisciplinary approach for research on behavioral health in adolescence and for the design of prevention/intervention programs to promote healthy development. In addition, the book's comparative studies of U.S. and Chinese youth reveal the generality of the theory across societal and national differences. Topics featured in this book include: Alcohol use and problem drinking in adolescent health and development. Psychosocial research on marijuana use. Understanding early initiation of sexual intercourse in adolescence. Smoking behavior in adolescence and young adulthood. Developmental change in risky driving. Healthy eating and regular exercise in adolescent health and development Problem Behavior Theory and Adolescent Health is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, clinicians, and related professionals as well as graduate students in developmental and health psychology, sociology, criminology, criminal justice, public health, and related disciplines.

This book, the first in a series of collected works, traces the evolution of Problem Behavior Theory from its inception to its current status as a widely used framework for understanding and addressing risky behavior in youth and young adults. The theory is explored from its beginnings as a study of deviant behavior and alcohol abuse in a tri-ethnic community through its expansion to include psychosocial aspects of development, risk and protective factors, and health behavior in the larger societal context of youth behavior. In its current form, Problem Behavior Theory constitutes an interdisciplinary approach to research personal and societal factors that are involved in both normative and problematic behavior. Chapters highlight the many contributions of the theory to social science and its potential for informing evidence-based intervention and prevention programs for youth and young adults. Topics featured in this book include: The Tri-Ethnic Community Study. The Socialization of Problem Behavior in Youth Study. The Young Adult Follow-up Study. The problem behavior syndrome. The cross-national generality of Problem Behavior Theory. Problem Behavior Theory and adolescent pro-social behavior. The Origins and Development of Problem Behavior Theory is a must-have resource for researchers/professors, clinicians, and related professionals as well as graduate students in social and developmental psychology, criminology/criminal justice, public health, social work, and related disciplines.

This third and final volume of Richard Jessor's collected works explores the central role of the social context in the formulation and application of Problem Behavior Theory. It discusses the effect of the social environment, especially the social context of disadvantage and limited opportunity, on adolescent behavior, health, and development. The book examines the application of the theory in social contexts as diverse as the inner cities of the United States; the slums of Nairobi, Kenya; and the urban settings of Beijing, China. It also provides insight into how adolescents and young adults manage to "succeed", despite disadvantage, limited opportunity, and even dangers in their everyday life settings. It illuminates how these youth manage to stay on track in school, avoid unintended pregnancy and dropout, keep clear of the criminal justice system, and remain uninvolved in heavy drug use. In addition, the book discusses the conceptual and methodological issues entailed in engaging the social context, including the role of subjectivity and meaning in an objective behavioral science; the contribution of the perceived environment in determining behavior; the continuity that characterizes adolescent growth and development; the necessity for a social-psychological level of analysis that avoids reductionism; the importance of a framework that engages the larger social environment; and the advantage of adhering to systematic theory for the explanatory generality it yields. Topics featured in this volume include: Home-leaving and its occurrence among youth in impoverished circumstances. The continuity of adolescent developmental change. The impact of neighborhood disadvantage on successful adolescent development. Successful adolescence in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Explaining both behavior and development in the language of social psychology. Problem Behavior Theory and the Social Context is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, clinicians, and related professionals as well as graduate students in sociology, social and developmental psychology, criminology/criminal justice, public health, and allied disciplines.

This second volume of Richard Jessor's influential works applies his groundbreaking theory to illuminating the psychosocial determinants of adolescent health. Focusing on a range of both health-compromising and health-enhancing behaviors, including problem drinking, marijuana use, risky driving, and early sexual experience as well as regular exercise and healthy diet, these writings advance understanding of the role of health behavior in adolescence and adolescent development. Chapters illustrate the relevance of the theory and of its interdisciplinary approach for research on behavioral health in adolescence and for the design of prevention/intervention programs to promote healthy development. In addition, the book's comparative studies of U.S. and Chinese youth reveal the generality of the theory across societal and national differences. Topics featured in this book include: Alcohol use and problem drinking in adolescent health and development. Psychosocial research on marijuana use. Understanding early initiation of sexual intercourse in adolescence. Smoking behavior in adolescence and young adulthood. Developmental change in risky driving. Healthy eating and regular exercise in adolescent health and development Problem Behavior Theory and Adolescent Health is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, clinicians, and related professionals as well as graduate students in developmental and health psychology, sociology, criminology, criminal justice, public health, and related disciplines.

This book, the first in a series of collected works, traces the evolution of Problem Behavior Theory from its inception to its current status as a widely used framework for understanding and addressing risky behavior in youth and young adults. The theory is explored from its beginnings as a study of deviant behavior and alcohol abuse in a tri-ethnic community through its expansion to include psychosocial aspects of development, risk and protective factors, and health behavior in the larger societal context of youth behavior. In its current form, Problem Behavior Theory constitutes an interdisciplinary approach to research personal and societal factors that are involved in both normative and problematic behavior. Chapters highlight the many contributions of the theory to social science and its potential for informing evidence-based intervention and prevention programs for youth and young adults. Topics featured in this book include: The Tri-Ethnic Community Study. The Socialization of Problem Behavior in Youth Study. The Young Adult Follow-up Study. The problem behavior syndrome. The cross-national generality of Problem Behavior Theory. Problem Behavior Theory and adolescent pro-social behavior. The Origins and Development of Problem Behavior Theory is a must-have resource for researchers/professors, clinicians, and related professionals as well as graduate students in social and developmental psychology, criminology/criminal justice, public health, social work, and related disciplines.

Studies of human development have taken an ethnographic turn in the 1990s. In this volume, leading anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists discuss how qualitative methodologies have strengthened our understanding of cognitive, emotional, and behavioral development, and of the difficulties of growing up in contemporary society.
Part 1, informed by a post-positivist philosophy of science, argues for the validity of ethnographic knowledge. Part 2 examines a range of qualitative methods, from participant observation to the hermeneutic elaboration of texts. In Part 3, ethnographic methods are applied to issues of human development across the life span and to social problems including poverty, racial and ethnic marginality, and crime.
Restoring ethnographic methods to a central place in social inquiry, these twenty-two lively essays will interest everyone concerned with the epistemological problems of context, meaning, and subjectivity in the behavioral sciences.

In this collection of chapters, leading scholars of adolescent risk behavior present the most recent ideas and findings about the variety of behaviors that can compromise adolescent development, including drug use, risky driving, early sexual activity, depression, and school disengagement. In particular, the volume emphasizes new perspectives on development and on person-centered analysis.

Beyond Adolescence traces the lives of adolescents and youth from the late 1960s into the late seventies and early eighties. It is unusual because of the period of time in which the study took place, as well as because of the portion of the lifespan it covers--early adulthood. Concerned with understanding the role of problem behavior in young adulthood and the factors that influence it, the study also traces outcomes on young adulthood of earlier involvements in problem behavior, with an emphasis on personality and social environment. The research extends and tests the theoretical framework that guided the study--Problem Behavior Theory--and shows its usefulness for understanding young adult problem behavior and development.

In this collection, leading experts on adolescent risk behavior present the most recent ideas and findings about the variety of behaviors that can compromise adolescent development. Among the topics the contributors explore are drug use, risky driving, early sexual activity, depression, and school disengagement. In particular, the volume emphasizes new perspectives on development and on person-centered analysis.