Harke A. Bosma - Böcker

Recent ideas concerning the development of self and identity have stressed the importance of moving away from an approach which is mainly concerned with outcomes, to one which focuses instead on processes of development and, more specifically, on a relational perspective on these processes. Identity and Emotion, first published in 2001, focuses on the individual development of identity and the processes involved. By working from emotions and a dynamic systems perspective the book offers an exciting approach to human identity and its development across the lifespan. The contributors to the book are specialists in this new approach, and offer challenging ideas on the development of identity as a self-organizing process. The book offers a wealth of ideas and insights, but also concentrates on the ways these insights can be translated into research.

Recent ideas concerning the development of self and identity have stressed the importance of moving away from an approach which is mainly concerned with outcomes, to one which focuses instead on processes of development and, more specifically, on a relational perspective on these processes. Identity and Emotion, first published in 2001, focuses on the individual development of identity and the processes involved. By working from emotions and a dynamic systems perspective the book offers an exciting approach to human identity and its development across the lifespan. The contributors to the book are specialists in this new approach, and offer challenging ideas on the development of identity as a self-organizing process. The book offers a wealth of ideas and insights, but also concentrates on the ways these insights can be translated into research.

The special issue aims to develop a greater understanding of the relationship between social cognitive development in adolescence and social behaviour, to discuss the mediating effects of other aspects of development in adolescence such as the parallel emergence of ideas concerning personal identity, patterns of relationship development within or outside the family, and to examine new approaches to the study of social development in adolescence. Finally it considers the problems (practical, methodological and ethical) associated with intervention in adolescence and how the approach(es) which are adopted may be guided by our understanding of young people's social cognitive development.