Extensive interviews with 24 married Chicana workers with children examined socialization to work in family of origin, early employment, educational attainment, and familial and employment factors influencing levels of work commitment and work identity. Professional, clerical, and blue-collar workers all had strong work commitment but differed in…

Interviews in two rural Maori villages in New Zealand examined elements of traditional Maori identity--sacredness, interconnectedness, language, and sense of place--and contrasted these elements with massive generational changes in economic circumstances. Although encouraging cultural and language maintenance, traditional Maori identity has not…

Use of the Orthogonal Cultural Identification Scale with 2,048 Mexican American and American Indian adolescents found that, as predicted, identification with one culture was independent of identification with another; cultural identification was strongly rooted in the family; and the scale was factor invariant across gender, grade level, and…

Structured interviews with 555 Puerto Rican youth aged 16-24 found that the impact of risk factors on drug use was offset by cultural knowledge, being culturally active, group attachment, and identification with Puerto Ricans. Ethnicity variables also enhanced the protective effect of other protective factors. Contains 36 references. (Author/SV)

The Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI) focuses on adults, their significant relationships, and current relations with family of origin. Three studies are reported to (1) create the DSI; (2) improve theoretical focus, item content, and psychometric properties; and (3) test validity. Factor analyses are presented and results discussed; test…

Revised the Identity Style Inventory (ISI) to sixth-grade reading level for use with adolescents/adults with reading limitations. Administered original and revised scales to 361 college students. Found that revised ISI (ISI-6G) scales were reliable and valid. Factor analysis and paired-sample t-test results demonstrated construct validity. ISI-6G…

A review of the development of self and empathy in infancy in general is followed by discussion of atypical development, noting that autistic children have a general deficit in development of empathic capacity and physical and representational sense of self. Specific interventions to enhance the development of both sense of self and empathic…

When professionals responding to sexual abuse disclosures exhibit a parallel process of role confusion, inadequate communication, secrecy and denial, the victims and their families are further traumatized. Suggests that the nature of rural communities has attributes that may contribute to these factors. States that creating a multidisciplinary…

Investigates the degree to which religious identity acts as a protective buffer against sexual risk-taking in late adolescence in 230 first-year college students. Results indicate that greater intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity were associated with less sexual activity and condom use. (Contains 21 references and 1 table.) (Author/GCP)

Interviews adolescent boys and girls about their experiences of silencing or loss of voice, their aspirations for the future, and their values regarding gender. Challenges counselors to reframe the problematic and stereotypical values and beliefs that adolescents internalize and openly address the vulnerability that both genders face in creating a…

Investigated the role of gender, gender role identity, rape myth acceptance, and initial resistance in assigning blame in the case of acquaintance rape, and studied the perceived avoidability of the assault for 355 female and 179 male college students. The gender differences in responses are discussed. (SLD)

Notes that during adolescence, girls become withdrawn and suffer from lapses of self-confidence, however, girls authoring Web pages devoted to girl power use the Web as a place where they confidently assert themselves and actively shaped their identity. Identifies girl-power sites, explores their potential strengths for girls as authors and…

Compares two models of forgiveness: (1) negotiated forgiveness; and (2) unilateral forgiveness. Explores the differences between these two models. Examines the implications for the relationship between justice and forgiveness using the example of truth and reconciliation according to each model. Includes references. (CMK)

Grapples with the difficult task of helping students differentiate between "myth" as a false belief or lie and "myth" as a cultural phenomenon embedded in sophisticated systems of meaning and action. Outlines four goals for the world mythology unit that help explore this greater sophistication with ninth graders. Concludes that the unit helps…

Explored the interpersonal identity development during early adolescence. Findings revealed that 55% of the sample fell into one of the four discrete identity status categories, with 62% of this group classified as either diffused or foreclosed. Findings reflect the emergent and/or transitional nature of interpersonal identity development during…