Bringing together a never-before-assembled network of biologists, psychologists, and sociologists, Positive Youth Development and Spirituality scientifically examines how spirituality and its cultivation may affect the positive development of adolescents.
Chapters provide groundbreaking new discussions of conceptual, theoretical, definitional, and methodological issues that need to be addressed when exploring the relationships between spirituality and development. Throughout the book, contributors recommend ways in which the research on the spirituality/positive youth development connection may be integral in building the larger field of spiritual development as a legitimate and active domain of developmental science. This volume, which is sure to be seen as a seminal contribution to a field in need of theoretical underpinnings, will be of interest to scholars and scientists in the fields of biology and the social and behavioral sciences.
Contributors include: Mona Abo-Zena, Jeffrey Jensen Arnnett, Peter L. Benson, Marina Umaschi Bers, Aerika Brittian, William Damon, Angela M. DeSilva, Jacquelynne S. Eccles, David Henry Feldman, Simon Gächter, Elena L. Grigorenko, Sonia S. Isaac, Lene Arnett Jensen, Carl N. Johnson, Linda Juang, Pamela Ebstyne King, Richard M. Lerner, Jennifer Menon, Na’ilah Sued Nasir, Guerda Nicolas, Toma´š Paus, Stephen C. Peck, Erin Phelps, Alan P. Poey, Robert W. Roeser, W. George Scarlett, Lonnie R. Sherrod, Gabriel S. Spiewak, Chris Starmer, Moin Syed, Janice L. Templeton, Heather L. Urry, and Richard Wilkinson.
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Back to TabsForeword / vii
Peter L. Benson
Preface / xi
1. Positive Development, Spirituality, and Generosity in Youth: An Introduction
to the Issues / 3
Richard M. Lerner, Robert W. Roeser, & Erin Phelps
Part 1 Conceptual Issues in Operationalizing Spirituality in Positive Youth Development
2. The Spirit of Spiritual Development / 25
Carl N. Johnson
3. Spirituality and Positive Youth Development: The Problem of Transcendence / 42
W. George Scarlett
4. Spirituality as Fertile Ground for Positive Youth Development / 55
Pamela Ebstyne King
5. Self and Identity Processes in Spirituality and Positive Youth Development / 74
Robert W. Roeser, Sonia S. Issac, Mona Abo-Zena, Aerika Brittian, & Stephen C. Peck
Part 2 Biological Contributions to the Spirituality- PYD Relation
6. Genetics of Faith: An Oxymoron Worth Examining / 109
Elena L. Grigorenko
7. Cooperative Behavior in Adolescence: Economic Antecedents and Neural Underpinnings / 128
Tomáš Paus, Simon Gächter, Chris Starmer, & Richard Wilkinson
8. How Religious/Spiritual Practices Contribute to Well-Being: The Role of Emotion Regulation / 145
Heather L. Urry & Alan P. Poey
Part 3: Individual Contributions to the Spirituality-PYD Relation
9. The Role of Developmental Change in Spiritual Development / 167
David Henry Feldman
10. Spirituality, “Expanding Circle Morality,” and Positive Youth Development / 197
Janice L. Templeton & Jacquelynne S. Eccles
11. The Role of Spirituality and Religious Faith in Supporting Purpose in Adolescence / 210
Jennifer Menon Mariano and William Damon
12. From “Worm Food” to “Infinite Bliss”: Emerging Adults’ Views of Life after Death / 231
Jeffrey Jensen Arnett
Part 4: Social and Cultural Contexts of the Spirituality-PYD Relation
13. Immigrant Civic Engagement and Religion: The Paradoxical Roles of Religious Motives and Organizations / 247
Lene Arnett Jensen
14. Ethnic Identity and Spirituality / 262
Linda Juang & Moin Syed
15. Considering Context, Culture, and Development in the Relationship between Spirituality and Positive Youth Development / 285
Na’ilah Suad Nasir
16. Application of the Ecological Model: Spirituality Research with Ethnically
Diverse Youths / 305
Guerda Nicolas & Angela M. DeSilva
17. Possible Interrelationships between Civic Engagement, Positive Youth Development, and Spirituality/Religiosity / 322
Lonnie R. Sherrod & Gabriel S. Spiewak
18. A Palace in Time: Supporting Children’s Spiritual Development through
New Technologies / 339
Marina Umaschi Bers
List of Contributors / 359
Index / 367
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