Human Development in Multicultural Contexts highlights cultural influences on each of four major dimensions
of development�the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social�during several stages of the life cycle: infancy,
preschool, middle childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This book of readings introduces students to theories,
empirical research, and applications from a multicultural perspective that have become central to the field of
life-cycle developmental psychology.
Each chapter of the book is in two parts: an overview, which is the editor's discussion of how that particular
life stage traditionally has been researched within the four dimensions of development�and of some important multicultural
correctives to these portrayals�and readings, a selection of articles (in excerpted format) that present specific
multicultural studies. Thus this book of readings can provide you with resources, insights, and techniques with
which to balance the perspectives on gender, race, ethnicity, class, and sex in your other courses.
It is assumed that students using Human Development in Multicultural Contexts have been introduced to
the fundamentals of life-cycle developmental psychology through other textbooks and classes. This book of readings,
therefore, is not intended to replace any textbook in developmental psychology; its goal is to supplement existing
course materials by offering a multicultural perspective that has typically been lacking in textbooks on developmental
psychology.
Each chapter opens with "Questions for Reflection" that will guide your reading. I have also provided
you with suggestions for further reading and some activities and questions to serve as a review of each chapter.
Due to space limitations in this text, we were unable to reprint the readings in their entirety. We have provided
you with the complete citation of the articles on the first page of each essay selection. I encourage you to continue
your studies on multicultural issues in life-cycle developmental psychology by reading the articles in their entirety
as they appeared in journal form. The authors provide a wealth of information on innovative research methodologies
and suggestions for further research. I also encourage you to pursue your own research in life-cycle developmental
psychology from a multicultural perspective.
Summary
This book focuses on the issues of life cycle development from a multicultural perspective. It explores the
impact of cultural influences on development within each of the life stages and dimensions of development and utilizes
a non-Eurocentric approach. It introduces the reader to several theories, research studies and applications and
examines the traditional research and modifications as a result of diverse cultural approaches. Human Development
in Multicultural Contexts offers an important and significant alternative to other human development books that
omit cultural variables. It helps to provide a balance in life with respect to resources, fresh perspectives, and
techniques. This multicultural book is information for a psychology of all people. A non-Eurocentric approach integrates
the scholarship of developmental psychology research from several cultures. It identifies historical and contemporary
contributions and experiences and deals with relevant developmental issues such as vocational development, eating
disorders, and dating violence. Ideal for anyone interested in developmental psychology of the developmental stages
of life from a multicultural perspective.
Table of Contents
(NOTE: Each Part begins with Questions for Reflection, Editor's Notes, and Selected Readings.)
CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE LIFE CYCLE
INTRODUCTION.
What Is Life-Cycle Developmental Psychology? Multiculturalism in Life-Cycle Developmental Psychology. Multiculturalism
in Life-Cycle Developmental Psychology: From Marginality to Inclusion. Placing Multiculturalism Within Developmental
Psychology Courses. Rationale for the Selection of Readings.
I. INFANCY. OVERVIEW: CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT IN INFANCY.
Physical Development in Infancy. Cognitive Development. Focus on Infant-Directed Speech. Emotional Development.
Focus on Infants' Sleeping Arrangements. Focus on Infant Temperament. Social Development. Focus on Mother-Infant
Attachment. Focus on Play.
READINGS
Functional Analysis of the Contents of Maternal Speech to Infants of 5 and 13 Months in Four Cultures: Argentina,
France, Japan, and the United States, Marc Bornstein, Joseph Tal, Charles Rahn, et al. Cultural Variations in Infant's Sleeping Arrangements: Questions of Independence, Gilda Morelli, Barbara
Rogoff, David Oppenheim, et al. Reactivity in Infants: A Cross-National Comparison, Jerome Kagan, Doreen Arcus, Nancy Snidman, et al . Sleeping Out of Home in a Kibbutz Communal Arrangement: It Makes a Difference for Infant-Mother Attachment,
Abraham Sagi, Frank Donnell, Marinus H. van Ijzendoorn, et al. Play in Two Societies: Pervasiveness of Process, Specificity of Structure, Marc Bornstein, O. Maurice Haynes,
Liliana Pascual, et al.
Review Questions and Activities.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
II. PRESCHOOL YEARS.
OVERVIEW: CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT IN INFANCY.
Physical Development in the Preschool Years. Cognitive Development. Focus on Language Advances. Focus on Child
Care. Emotional Development. Focus on the Role of the Mother. Focus on the Role of the Father. Social Development.
Focus on Play. Focus on Preschoolers' Exposure to Real Violence.
READINGS.
Parent's Report of Vocabulary and Grammatical Development of African American Preschoolers: Child and Environmental
Associations, Joanne Roberts, Margaret Burchinal, and Meghan Durham. Child Care for Children in Poverty: Opportunity or Inequality?, Deborah Phillips, Miriam Voran, Ellen Kisker,
et al. Emotion Regulation in Early Childhood: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Between German and Japanese Toddlers.
Wolfgang Friedlmeier / Gisela Trommsdorff. African-American Fathers in Low Income, Urban Families: Development, Behavior, and Home Environment of Their
Three-Year Old Children, Maureen Black, Howard Dubowitz, and Raymond Starr, Jr. Cultural Differences in Korean-and Anglo-American Preschooler's Social Interaction and Play Behaviors, Jo
Ann Farver, Yonnie Kwak Kim, and Yoolim Lee. Effects of Community Violence on Inner-City Preschoolers and Their Families, Jo Ann Farver, Lucia Natera,
and Dominick Forsch.
Review Questions and Activities.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
III. MIDDLE CHILDHOOD. OVERVIEW: CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT IN MIDDLE CHILDHOOD.
Physical Development in Middle Childhood. Cognitive Development. Focus on Academic Achievement and Adjustment.
Focus on Language Development. Emotional Development. Focus on Children of Divorce. Focus on Self-Care After School.
Social Development. Focus on the Influence of a Peer Group.
READINGS.
Gender Effects in Children's Beliefs About School Performance: A Cross-Cultural Study. Anna Stetsenko
/ Todd D. Little / Tamara Gordeeva, et al. Phonetic Awareness: Knowledge of Orthography-Phonology Relationships in the Character Acquisition of Chinese
Children. Hua Shu / Richard C. Anderson / Ningning Wu. A Prospective Study of the Effects of Marital Status and Family Relations on Young Children's Adjustment among
African-American and European-American Families, Daniel Shaw, Emily Winslow, and Clare Flanagan. Children of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth: Choices in After-School Care and Child Development,
Deborah Lowe Vandell and Janaki Ramanan. Costa Rican Children's Perceptions of Their Social Networks, Melissa DeRossier and Janis Kupersmidt.
Review Questions and Activities.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
IV. ADOLESCENCE. OVERVIEW: CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT IN ADOLESCENCE.
Physical Development During Adolescence. Cognitive Development. Focus on Body Image. Emotional Development.
Focus on Identity Development. Focus on Adolescent Depression. Social Development. Focus on Friendships and Membership
in a Peer Group. Focus on Sexual Activity and Risk-Taking Behavior.
READINGS.
Effects of Body Fat on Weight Concerns, Dating, and Sexual Activity: A Longitudinal Analysis of Black and
White Adolescent Girls, Carolyn Tucker Halpern, Richard Udry, Benjamin Campbell, et al. The Collectivistic Nature of Ethnic Identity Development Among Asian-American College Students. Christine
J. Yeh /Karen Huang Depression in Adolescence, Anne C. Petersen, Bruce Compas, Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, et al. Adolescent Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Best Friend Interactions, Cami McBride and Tiffany Field. Searching for the Magic Johnson Effect: AIDS, Adolescents, and Celebrity Disclosure, Bruce Brown, Jr., Marc
Baranowski, John Kulig, et al.
Review Questions and Activities.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
V. ADULTHOOD.
OVERVIEW: CULTURAL INFLUENCES ON DEVELOPMENT IN ADULTHOOD.
Physical Development in Adulthood. Focus on Physical Functioning. Cognitive Development. Focus on Awareness
and Utilization of Long-Term Care Services. Focus on Objectified Body Consciousness. Emotional Development. Focus
on Continuity in Personality Across the Life Cycle. Focus on Depressive Psychopathology in Older Adults. Focus
on Fear of Death. Social Development. Focus on Family Violence. Focus on Grandparenting. Focus on the Experience
of Bicultural Identity.
READINGS.
Constant Hierarchic Patterns of Physical Functioning Across Seven Populations in Five Countries. Luigi
Ferrucci /Jack M. Guralnik /Francesca Cecchi, et al. Awareness and Utilization of Community Long-Term Care Services by Elderly Korean and Non-Hispanic White Americans.
Ailee Moon /James E. Lubben / Valentine Villa. Women and Objectified Body Consciousness: Mothers' and Daughters' Body Experience in Cultural, Developmental,
and Familial Context, Nita McKinley. Age Differences in Personality Across the Adult Life Span: Parallels in Five Cultures, Robert McRae, Paul
Costa, Jr., Margarida Pedroso do Lima, et al. Ethnicity, Gender, and Depressive Symptoms in Older Workers, Maria Fernandez, Elizabeth Mutran, Donald Reitzes,
et al. Personality and Demographic Factors in Older Adults' Fear of Death. Victor G. Cicirelli. Changing Community Responses to Wife Abuse: A Research and Demonstration Project in Iztacalco, Mexico, Gillian
Fawcett, Lori Heise, Leticia Isita-Espejel, et al. Raising Grandchildren: The Experiences of Black and White Grandmothers, Rachel Pruchno. Bicultural Identification: Experiences of Internationally Adopted Children and Their Parents. Myrna L. Friedlander
/ Lucille C. Larney / Marianne Skau, et al.
Review Questions and Activities.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
References.
Credits.
Index.
