Journal of Social Issues – serie

The Internet is becoming a primary means of interpersonal communication, and with this comes implications for many aspects of social life. This book examines these from a variety of perspectives: psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships, social identity, group conflict, negotiation and bargaining, community involvement, and the development of democratic institutions. The authors present quantitative as well as qualitative methodological approaches, along with analyses reflecting the complexities of the 'Human-Internet interaction'. Examines the implications of the internet as the primary means of personal communicationPulls together current research by well established researchers on the social consequences of the Internet, from a variety of levels of analysis, producing a holographic, 3-D look at the Internet's impact on psychological functioning of the individual as well as on the social fabricPerspectives of this examination include: psychological well-being, interpersonal relationships, social identity, group conflict, negotiation and bargaining,community involvement, and the development of democratic institutions

Researchers and theorists who attempt to generalize about sexuality and sexual orientation in both men and women simultaneously often take male experiences as the norm and ignore unique aspects of women's lives. The purpose of this issue is to focus attention on scientific research and theory about aspects of women's sexualities, with special emphasis on sexual orientation. A new paradigm is presented that recognizes the great diversity of women's erotic experiences and the many sociocultural factors that shape women's sexuality and sexual orientation across the lifespan.

The subject of poverty in the United States is one of central concern, with regards to social issues and justice. Its relative invisibility in psychology reflects the discipline's dominant middle-class standpoint. This issue focuses specifically on the voices of poor women in the United States.

This book focuses on the psychology, sociology, and public policy of global environmental issues. The goals of the book are: to describe the current state of the environment and environmentalismto present new theories and research on environmental attitudes and behaviorsto explore obstacles and ethical considerations in promoting pro-environmental action

This book discusses the role of psychology in understanding the processes associated with immigrants and immigration, and in meeting the challenge of managing immigration successfully and in ways that facilitate the achievement and well-being of immigrants, that benefit the country collectively, and that produce the cooperation and support of members of the receiving society. It considers how the study of immigrants and immigration offers potential benefits to the discipline of psychology and describes how a psychological perspective on this topic can complement in important ways other disciplinary perspectives.

The contributors to this special issue present an overview of the recent history and trends associated with community involvement, including definitions, goals, major movements, and examples of specific models. A special emphasis is given to service-learning programs and the factors that produce beneficial outcomes for all relevant constituencies. Presents an overview of the recent history and trends associated with community involvement, including definitions, goals, major movements, and examples of specific modelsIncludes discussions of the functions, processes, and theoretical underpinnings of community involvement and specific types of involvement such as community service, service-learning, and volunteerismHighlights themes such as education, power relations, and motivation as they emerge from the discussion of community involvement

Old age represents a new frontier. The number of older people is increasing throughout the world. This changing demography affects individuals, but also families, communities and societies. The focus of this special issue is the well-being of older adults on different continents. Scientists from around the world address this issue using a wide array of research designs and methodologies to provide a broad perspective on aging. Five topics are considered: Well-Being among Older Adults; Social Support; Functional Status, Well-Being, and Successful Aging; Cross-Cultural Approaches to the Study of Aging; and Research Perspectives in Aging. This volume clearly demonstrates that scientists have much to contribute to the goal of optimizing the experience of aging and creating a society for all ages.

Youth Perspectives on Violence and Injustice explores the myths and realities of adolescent's participation in violent behavior and the volence perpetrated against them because of ethnicity, sexuality, and gender. It explores the causes as well as the possible solutions for this growing issue in child development.

Psychological and social processes that connect health with housing come into focus in this collection of original papers. Eminent European and North American scholars provide conceptual and analytical tools useful for further enhancing our understanding of the relations among housing, residence, and health. Features articles by eminent European and North American scholars, which investigate the psychological and social processes that connect health with housing. Explores how social ecological factors set the boundaries for the activities individuals engage in regarding their health and housing. Provides conceptual and analytical tools to further enhance understanding of the relationships between housing, residence, and health.

Beginning with an introduction that defines and explores privacy as a social and psychological concept and continuing with articles that discuss the ramifications of privacy for social policy, psychology and theory, this book provides an in-depth and insightful look at privacy as a pertinent social concern. Defines and explores privacy as a social and psychological concept. Includes articles on the transborder data flows of personal information; public opinion and legislation on privacy; medical and genetic privacy; e-commerce and justice theory; invasiveness in employment procedures; how individuals resist and neutralize surveillance; and the links between privacy, secrecy and deception. Offers an evaluation of the contributions of Westin's and Altman's theories of privacy.

This issue of JSI is an effort to engage psychologists in a critical study of social class; that is, a systematic, research-based literature focused on the exploration of the psychological meaning of social class to diverse groups of people. Because educational institutions both attempt to offer opportunity and often simultaneously reproduce existing class stratification, the context of education is an ideal stage on which to watch the dynamics and contradictions of class play out in both individual and social psychology. Focuses on understanding attitudes, beliefs and attributions about class. Examines the processes through which education may provide class mobility for some, while maintaining class status for others. Brings attention to the implications of a critical psychology of social class for both educational policy and practice.

In 2004, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, yet issues of racial and ethnic integration in schools and colleges remain. The articles in this Issue explore both the processes and implications of interethnic contact in educational settings from elementary schools through universities, and suggest courses of action for educational institutions in the 21st century. outlines strategies schools and colleges can use to foster better interethnic relationships on campusexamines what predominantly White schools and colleges can do in faculty hiring and training and student programs to better address the needs of their students of colorexplores links between peer relationships at school and achievement motivation for students of colorstudies the implications of "English only" policies on the education of immigrant populationsinvestigates the struggles of faculty of color at predominantly White institutions.

Israeli Jewish and Arab intergroup relations experts within Israel have developed innovative coexistence programs. These programs consist of educational efforts designed to improve relations between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs. This issue presents theory, methods, and data from these coexistence programs. Studies the diverse Israeli coexistence programs, which attempt to improve relations between Israeli Jews and ArabsAddresses conceptual and theoretical issues involved in establishing conditions for positive coexistence in Israel.Examines specific coexistence programs, presenting the background, goals, techniques and assessments of each program.Critically evaluates coexistence programs.

The Cost of Conflict: Children and Northern Irish TroublesThis book explores the effects of political violence on children and young people in Northern Ireland. The issues begins with a brief historical account of the Northern Irish conflict and the recently negotiated Belfast Good Friday Agreement of 1998. The issue reviews the extent of young peoples' experience of conflict in Northern Ireland as well as the likely impact of these experiences on young people's lives. These include the effects of the conflict on everyday aspects of life, such as school life and availability and use and misuse of drugs. The issue also considers the role that social and national identity has played in maintaining the Northern Irish conflict, by exploring the enduring and polarised nature of children's political socialisation. Finally, in looking to the future young people's willingness to forgive and their engagement with the current political processes in Northern Ireland is considered.

Over the past four or five decades, the feminist revolution has brought a lot of changes. There is a lot of evidence that the glass ceiling is being shattered. For one particular group, however, gender equity remains elusive. That group is working mothers. The problem of the "glass ceiling" has now turned into a related, from different problem: "the maternal wall." In the first Journal of Social Issues (JSI) to deal specifically with the topic of working mothers, scholars from several disciplines discuss a variety of aspects of the problem of the maternal wall.

In order for new reproductive technologies to improve the health and well-being of women, they must be acceptable and accessible. Therefore, it is imperative to learn not only about the technology, but also about the individuals for whom it is intended. In Current Reproductive Technologies 2ed, the focus is put on multiple determinants that influence the acceptability of reproductive technologies as wall as the policies, and political and legal implications associated. Topics included personal and contextual barriers to use, limited access for low income women and minorities, and the social controversy surrounding the topic as a whole.

Humans automatically categorize others in social perception. Some categorizations ­ race, gender, and age -- are so automatic that they are termed "primitive categories." As we categorize, we develop stereotypes about the categories. Researchers know much about racism and sexism, but comparatively little about prejudice based on age. The papers in this issue highlight the current empirical and theoretical work on understanding the origins and consequences of stereotyping and prejudice against older adults.With the aging baby boomer demographic, it is especially timely for researchers to work to understand how society can shed its institutionalized ageism and promote respect for elders.

This volume focuses on exploring the impact of religion from a social science point of view by presenting the meaning system approach to the contemporary practice of religion, within social personality psychology and related fields; and to show the interdisciplinary, multimethod research being conducted within this framework. Religion as a Meaning System sheds new light on the impact that religion has on individuals in terms of their beliefs, goals, emotions, and behaviors, as well as the influence on interpersonal and intergroup relationship, both nationally and internationally.

The domain of peace psychology is delineated by scholars from around the world who demonstrate how the focal concerns of the field vary with geohistoricalcontext: some being primarily concerned with patterns of behavior and cognition involved in the prevention of violent episodes; and others with the amelioration of structural violence. A systems perspective is used as a framework for integrating episodes and structures of violence and peace. Articles emphasizing "systemic violence" underscore the interplay of structures and episodes of violence. Articles on "systemic peacebuilding"examine the nonviolent management of conflict, and movement toward socially just structures that yield cooperative and equitable relationships across levels, from interpersonal to intergroup.

This volume addresses child maltreatment, one of the greatest social problems yet to be adequately addressed by social science. It showcases research on understanding, treating, and preventing child maltreatment, and illustrates how such research can be directly applied to practice, policy, and law. Specific topics covered include national trends in the incidence of child maltreatment, physiological consequences of child maltreatment, treatment for maltreatment victims, risks and opportunities associated with foster care placement following maltreatment, prevention and intervention strategies, cultural influences on the perpetration and treatment of child maltreatment, children’s competencies in various abuse-related legal contexts and their eyewitness testimony abilities, and challenges and opportunities faced by psychologists working on all forms of child maltreatment within a multidisciplinary context. Several important themes weave throughout all of the articles, including attention to (a) all forms of child maltreatment, (b) new research theories and techniques, (c) multidisciplinarity, and (d) the applicability and practical significance of the scientific research for public policy and law. The volume has great potential to encourage better research, practice, law, and policy. It will inform scientists across various sub-fields of psychology about the most current knowledge in the discipline and the limits of that knowledge. It will encourage psychologists to think creatively about the issues from psychological, sociological, medical, and legal perspectives. It will bring balance within the current socio-political context of child maltreatment research, focusing research and policy on important issues that arise in actual child abuse cases rather than issues that surround controversial false child maltreatment allegations. This volume demonstrates how new research findings can (a) provide practitioners with information that can support treatment efforts, (b) spawn better future programs of research, and (c) directly aid new prevention efforts and better social policy and law. This information will advance psychologists’ collective understanding of child maltreatment.

Environmental sustainability is a necessity for all countries worldwide, and it is strongly related to human quality of life. Given that sustainability problems largely result from human-environment interactions, social and behavioral research is developing as a necessary complement to natural-science and technological studies of environmental problems. To demonstrate this, the various authors address key theoretical, methodological and policy-making questions about the behavioral dimensions of environmental sustainability. Successively considered are the appreciation of environmental risk, citizens’ annoyance from environmental noise, the evaluation of urban environmental quality, the restorative significance of nature experiences, fundamental behavioral processes and environmental motivations, and unsustainable-behavior change and the roles of technology therein. The usefulness of multidisciplinary research is emphasized. Finally explicated is psychology’s drive and potential for analyzing and supporting environmental sustainability as a long-term human social and economic interest.

This volume deals with the challenge of measuring the emotional atmospheres, climates and cultures that affect humans at different periods of time. Individual articles deal with the emotional climate in different prisons, communities, regions, and nations. Some examine how emotional climates affect our individual and collective behavior, and how climate is affected by terrorist attacks, genocide, and conditions of peace. Others relate emotional climate to the peacefulness of different cultures and the happiness of individuals.

This collection of original articles highlights the similarities and differences in the status of homelessness and research approaches used to understand this social problem in the US and other developed nations. Articles include literature reviews, studies comparing homelessness across nations, papers that examine specific issues in relation to homelessness in particular nations, and policy oriented discussions Eight different developed nations are in some substantial way considered in one or more of the 11 papers After the US, these nations include the 5 most populous among the world’s fully developed nations (i.e., Japan, Germany, France, the UK, and Italy) as well as a few smaller ones (i.e., Australia, the Czech Republic, and Belgium) All papers are by authors and/or based on data from outside of the US

Changing times mean that people are living longer and in more complex families. Changes include greater geographical mobility, increased racial and ethnic diversity, new patterns of immigration and identity reformulation, and changing work and family roles. With governmental resources decreasing, it is especially important to understand the changing nature of multigenerational family structures, functioning, and roles in individual well-being in order to maximize the effectiveness of informal and formal supports available. This issue examines factors that facilitate anticipating, understanding, and designing support programs to meet the challenges facing individuals in all generation positions, families, and communities in the U.S. and around the world.

The authors consider various forms of non-normative educational pathways within the cultural contexts of Canada, England, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States of America. Rather than conducting cross-cultural comparisons of normative educational pathways, the authors focus on (a) identifying unexpected educational pathways across various ages using various analytic methods and (b) examining a wide range of factors that may promote, inhibit, or result from these diverse forms of educational progress. The results are intended to help researchers and policy-makers understand why some students who appear to be on promising educational pathways fail to succeed and why other students, who appear to be at risk for failure, nevertheless go on to negotiate successful educational pathways.

All papers concentrate on empirical findings throughout Europe as well as cross-national comparisons. This research reveals both consistent patterns and intriguing differences across countries. New research data from Western and Eastern European surveys and experiments New theoretical conceptualizations of prejudice Multi-disciplinary approaches Debate on policy making with reference to non European countries

Psychologists, political scientists, and experts in election law present a multidisciplinary perspective on voting. Personality characteristics such as motivation, values, and efficacy are considered, as are demographic variables such as education, age, and social classExamines the reciprocal relationship that exists in the functions of voting for individual and society: the interplay between persons and institutions gives rise to the perception that a government is or is not legitimate, and to the sense that an individual does, or does not, belong

This special issue highlights the complexity, breadth, and range of topics pertaining to children’s rights as a social issue. The contributions included in this issue provide current theory and empirical research addressing the ways in which children and youth conceptualize their need for rights in contexts such as the family, school, community, and greater society. Additionally, the contributions address the implications this research has for policy and practice centered on the rights of children and youth in varying social contexts. As such this issue will be of interest to all those who advocate for young people in a variety of setting, as well as those whose work pertains to bettering the lives children and youth more generally. Focuses on children’s and adolescents’ conceptions of their rights and responsibilities. Articles utilize the best developmental science and theoretical frameworks to address the tensions and complexities of children’s rights both locally and globally

The present issue brings together research and theory in psychology, sociology, education, culture studies, and public policy surrounding multiracial identity and introduces new advances in thinking about race, intergroup relations and racial identity. In exploring multiracial identity, the issue will re-examine conceptualization of race and racial identification by examining the social experiences of multiracial individuals.