Authoritative Communities: The Scientific Case for Nurturing the Whole Child (The Search Institute Series on Developmentally Attentive Community and Society) [Hardcover]

Kathleen Kovner Kline (Editor)

Book Description

Series: The Search Institute Series on Developmentally Attentive Community and Society | Publication Date: November 7, 2007

This unique book offers insight into a new social science concept, authoritative communities. Unlike any other volume, Kline’s work facilitates the continuing dialogue about the needs of children and teens and society’s responsibility to nurture its greatest human capital. The report that led to the development of this volume, Hardwired to Connect, identified a need in today’s children and youth and communicated a solution that society believes is valid.

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: "Authoritative Communities: The Scientific Case for Nurturing the Whole Child is part of the Search Institute Series on Developmentally Attentive Community and Society. … It emphasizes the importance of developmentally attentive communities that provide boundaries, guidance, and support to young people. … There are several impressive reviews of research on attachment, religion, and the development of conscience … . the scholars associated with the present volume should be commended for tackling such a significant and complex set of concerns." (David W. Carroll, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 53 (2), 2008)

From the Back Cover

Authoritative Communities: The Scientific Case for Nurturing the Whole Child introduces innovative solutions based firmly in the children’s mental health and resilience literature and in the hypothesis that humans are "hardwired to connect." These "authoritative communities" consist of such individuals and institutions as parents, teachers, coaches, elders, and a variety of organizations that are committed to each other’s well-being over the long-term and who instill children with prosocial values such as empathy and compassion. Living within these communities enables children and youth to develop a consistent sense of purpose and meaning, so that they, in turn, are able to grow up to be responsible, productive, and nurturing adults. The comprehensive coverage in this volume bring new insights and evidence to the nature/nurture debate from developmental, attachment, neurobiological, spiritual, and community perspectives, including: Nurturing as a protective factor against genetic predispositions. Counteracting the adverse influence of the media on children. Promoting a sense of community in disadvantaged youth. Spiritual approaches, from the Buddhist "minding children with mindfulness" to traditional young men’s rites of passage. Adolescent development, from psychobiology to the formation of conscience. Dispatches from the civil society movement, the School Development Program, and the motherhood movement. This volume is essential reading for researchers and practitioners as well as graduate-level students in developmental, clinical, and social psychology as well as related fields such as sociology, social work, education, and religious studies.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (November 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387727205
• ISBN-13: 978-0387727202
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,743,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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4.0 out of 5 stars Groundbreaking work, November 20, 2011

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Memphis Stacy (Somewhere in the USA or East Africa) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Authoritative Communities: The Scientific Case for Nurturing the Whole Child (The Search Institute Series on Developmentally Attentive Community and Society) (Kindle Edition)

The research in this book goes along with what other researchers on the cutting edge are also discovering! We need value-driven reform! My only disappointment is that there hasn't been much done to replicate the work and research here. If you have a "religion allergy" because many people of faith adhere to what is said here, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Even people of faith can be good consumers of research.

It's not until we focus on the personhood of both the child and the professional, and build community, that we'll bring any sort of the reform we're so desperately looking for.