Institutions make new forms of acting possible: Signing executive orders, scoring goals, and officiating weddings are only possible because of the U.S. government, the rules of soccer, and the institution of marriage. Thus, when an individual occupies a particular social role (president, soccer player, and officiator), they acquire new ways of…

Findings indicated that girls suffered from poor body image and dissatisfaction with weight more often than boys did. Findings also supported the notion of an interaction between context and individual. Sex differences were differentially moderated by the communities in which the adolescents lived. (RH)

Discusses the influence of external environments on the functioning of families as contexts for child development. Describes studies on the interaction of genetics and environment, on relationships between the family and hospital care, day care, peers, schools, parental employment and support networks, the community, and major transition life…