Problem Behavior Theory and the Social Context: The Collected Works of Richard Jessor, Volume 3 (Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development)

This third and final volume of Richard Jessor’s collected works explores the central role of the social context in the formulation and application of Problem Behavior Theory. It discusses the effect of the social environment, especially the social context of disadvantage and limited opportunity, on adolescent behavior, health, and development. The book examines the application of the theory in social contexts as diverse as the inner cities of the United States; the slums of Nairobi, Kenya; and the urban settings of Beijing, China. It also provides insight into how adolescents and young adults manage to “succeed”, despite disadvantage, limited opportunity, and even dangers in their everyday life settings. It illuminates how these youth manage to stay on track in school, avoid unintended pregnancy and dropout, keep clear of the criminal justice system, and remain uninvolved in heavy drug use. In addition, the book discusses the conceptual and methodological issues entailed in engaging the social context, including the role of subjectivity and meaning in an objective behavioral science; the contribution of the perceived environment in determining behavior; the continuity that characterizes adolescent growth and development; the necessity for a social-psychological level of analysis that avoids reductionism; the importance of a framework that engages the larger social environment; and the advantage of adhering to systematic theory for the explanatory generality it yields. Topics featured in this volume include: * Home-leaving and its occurrence among youth in impoverished circumstances. * The continuity of adolescent developmental change. * The impact of neighborhood disadvantage on successful adolescent development. * Successful adolescence in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. * Explaining both behavior and development in the language of social psychology. __Problem Behavior Theory and the Social Context__ is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, clinicians, and related professionals as well as graduate students in sociology, social and developmental psychology, criminology/criminal justice, public health, and allied disciplines. "This third and final volume of Richard Jessor’s collected works explores the central role of the social context in the formulation and application of Problem Behavior Theory. It discusses the effect of the social environment, especially the social context of disadvantage and limited opportunity, on adolescent behavior, health, and development. The book examines the application of the theory in social contexts as diverse as the inner cities of the United States; the slums of Nairobi, Kenya; and the urban settings of Beijing, China. It also provides insight into how adolescents and young adults manage to "succeed", despite disadvantage, limited opportunity, and even dangers in their everyday life settings. It illuminates how these youth manage to stay on track in school, avoid unintended pregnancy and dropout, keep clear of the criminal justice system, and remain uninvolved in heavy drug use. In addition, the book discusses the conceptual and methodological issues entailed in engaging the social context, including the role of subjectivity and meaning in an objective behavioral science; the contribution of the perceived environment in determining behavior; the continuity that characterizes adolescent growth and development; the necessity for a social-psychological level of analysis that avoids reductionism; the importance of a framework that engages the larger social environment; and the advantage of adhering to systematic theory for the explanatory generality it yields. Topics featured in this volume include: Home-leaving and its occurrence among youth in impoverished circumstances. The continuity of adolescent developmental change. The impact of neighborhood disadvantage on successful adolescent development. Successful adolescence in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Explaining both behavior and development in the language of social psychology. Problem Behavior Theory and the Social Context is a must-have resource for researchers, professors, clinicians, and related professionals as well as graduate students in sociology, social and developmental psychology, criminology/criminal justice, public health, and allied disciplines." -- Prové de l'editor Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction to the Volume....Pages 1-9 Front Matter....Pages 11-11 “Making It” Among At-Risk Youth: The Role of the Social Context....Pages 13-30 Problem Behavior Theory and Success Despite Disadvantage....Pages 31-56 Social Context Protection and Risk in Adolescent Behavior and Development....Pages 57-88 Neighborhood Variation and Successful Adolescent Development....Pages 89-94 Problem Behavior Theory and Adolescent Problem Behavior in Sub-Saharan Africa....Pages 95-115 Successful Adolescence in the Slums of Nairobi, Kenya....Pages 117-135 Problem Behavior Theory and the Transition to Adulthood in the Slums of Nairobi, Kenya....Pages 137-159 Front Matter....Pages 161-161 The Perceived Environment as Social Context....Pages 163-181 The Perceived Environment and the Psychological Situation....Pages 183-205 Engaging Subjectivity in Understanding Individual Differences....Pages 207-215 Explaining Behavior and Development in the Language of Psychology....Pages 217-226 The Perceived Environment in Personality Variation....Pages 227-237 Continuity in Psychosocial Change from Adolescence to Young Adulthood....Pages 239-260 Restoring Context and Meaning in Social Inquiry: The Reach of Qualitative Methods....Pages 261-271 The Transdisciplinary Nature of Contemporary Behavioral Science....Pages 273-275 The Cross-National Generality of Theoretical Explanation....Pages 277-280 Back Matter....Pages 281-286 Annotation This third and final volume of Richard Jessor's collected works explores the central role of the social context in the formulation and application of Problem Behaviour Theory. It discusses the effect of the social environment, especially the social context of disadvantage and limited opportunity, on adolescent behavior, health, and development