Personality Development in Adolescence: A Cross National and Life Span Perspective. - book reviews

Adolescence, Summer, 1999

SKOE, Eva, & LIPPE, Anna von der. (Eds.). New York: Routledge, 1998. 218pp. $75.00 (h), $24.95 (p).

Challenge and conflict seem to be an integral part of adolescent life. This book includes both recent research and summaries of earlier major studies of adolescence. Morality, gender, family contexts, and social change are examined in a cross-cultural study of personality development in adolescence. Norwegian findings challenge some American findings, but overall there are more transcultural similarities than differences for the internalization of personality structure. Chapters include: individuality and connectedness in adolescent development - review and prospects for research on identity, relationships, and context; are conflict and challenge sources of personality development? - ego development and family communication; a narrative approach to the study of moral orientation in the family - tales of kindness and care; social parameters in adolescent development - challenges to psychological research; self-concept development during adolescence - do American truths hold for Norwegians?; language and ethnic identity in indigenous adolescents; the ethic of care - issues in moral development; adolescence as a second separation-individuation process - critical review of an object relations approach; and Peer Gynt's life cycle.