Customer Reviews

Adolescent, The: Development, Relationships, and Culture

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This book presents a comprehensive view of adolescent psychology. In the first half of the book the author, F. Philip Rice, includes a chapter describing such common adolescent tehories as those of Piaget and Erikson, and presents the strengths and weaknesses of each theory. He also devotes a chapter to adolescent physical development. From reading the first few chapters, it seems like a standard college textbook. What sets this book apart from many textbooks dealing with this subject, however, is its focus on diversity issues and adolescent culture.

F. Philip Rice, the book's author, argues that most psychological surveys of adolescents do not take ethnicity into account. He believes that it is important to include ethnicity as a factor in such studies, for the cultural beliefs, values, and traditions of the different minority populations in America (i.e., African Americans, Asians, Mexicans, Native Americans, and Puerto Ricans) and describing their religious beliefs, family traditions, and cultural attitudes towards such topics as dating, marriage, and education. It is important to note that he describes Mexicans and Puerto Ricans as separate groups. Most studies, he argues, tend to group both these ethnicities as "Hispanics," but they each as a group have their own cultural traditions and attitudes.

Rice's chapter on adolescent culture is the highlight of the work. In this section, he focuses on his theory of adolescent subculture, which "emphasizes conformity to the peer group and values that are contrary to adult values. This culture exists primarily in the high school, where it constitutes a small society..." (Rice, 236). Rice argues that, since this subculture primarily exists within the confines of high school, adolescents are able to form their own systems of values and beliefs separate from adult society. He devotes a large portion of the chapter to how adolescents are able to form their own class system and create their own status indicators, and shows how their world can be seen as a scaled-down version of adult society.

This is a wonderful textbook for students, and an outstanding reference for secondary school administrators and guidance counselors. If this work is used in a college course, however, it should serve as a compliment to other books, rather than serve as the primary work, because of its lack of case studies.

I am currently studying for the final in a class that uses this textbook as the primary text. I've read nearly every page of this text for this course. I'd like to give you an example of the depth of the its subject matter:

"Best friends usually get along well because they are similar and thus compatible."

....Really?! (That's not even an introductory sentence.)

I'd also like to note that while this text focuses on diversity issues (which I commend them for trying), almost all of the supporting statistics are at least 10 years old and thus utterly useless in today's world.

Unless you magically skipped adolescent life, you won't find anything in this text that you didn't already know from your own adolescent experience.

BOTTOM LINE: Don't read this if you don't have to, and certainly don't pay for it if you do end up reading it. I'm sure there's another text out there that would be better for you.

Reading this was a waste of my time. Don't make it a waste of yours.

I received the book and good timing, and well protected...I must say. But I tried to contact someone about returning this item because it was the wrong edition for my class and have not received any responses.

You can read my review below. I just wanted to make sure I could also give it one star. Although no stars would be just as fitting.

This is what I posted under someone's review of the book:
I could not agree more. There is a quiz about AIDS and it asks, "Can you get AIDS by holding hands?" SERIOUSLY? This is supposed to be a graduate class and I'm pretty sure I learned that in 4th grade. This book is an embarrassment. I could have written a better book on adolescents with out their research. This book is pathetic. If you have a teacher who asks you to get this book, if possible, run the other way.

I was not impress with this purchase. I ordered the 13 edition and i got the 12th which is of no use to me.

Great book, lots of interesting and relevant info for people learning about adolescents. I love the book!

where is my development labe code? it says its included? can anyone who knows tell me please. thanks

I have used this book as a supplemnent to taking a graduate level Adolescent psychology class. I also use this text to cover information not in an introductory or developmenatal psychology text in my classes. It's current (2011), and has a lot of valuable information to share with undergraduates as most of my students are emerging from adolencents to young adulthood, and this text supplements their reading and understanding of their development, forming relationships, and bringing into context the role of culture. Recommend.

Great seller, prompt shipping and product was exactly as described... Great condition and had no problem at all.

There is important info found in this book. However, it is the same as any other psyc book.