The role of culture and traditions in how young children’s identities are constructed

ABSTRACT

This article explores how cultures and traditions influence the construction of young children’s identities. Identity is conceptualised as a constantly changing narrative based on how an individual sees him or herself and how s/he is perceived. We all have multiple, intersecting identities. Different meanings of culture are discussed, highlighting norms and values, ‘culture-as-the-arts’, and space for growth. Primary and secondary socialisation is emphasised, recognising the influence factors such as gender, race, class and religion. The effect of the home and of the macro-culture and different micro-cultures and traditions is considered. In relation to children’s spirituality, trusting relationships and hospitable environments, and the need to counter messages given by an individualistic and consumerist macro-culture are highlighted. An apprenticeship approach is advocated, where adults encourage questioning and strive to maintain children’s sense of agency, with a gradual transfer of power as children become older and/or more confident. It is suggested that researchers and practitioners should take more account of external factors such as gender, race and class in relation to children’s spirituality.     

The impact of health education on adolescents

Health education lies on the boundary between family and school. Its contents are therefore difficult to define, even though the need to educate, especially through dialogue, is quite clear. Young people who feel uncomfortable with themselves are already half way to failure.     

The young and the media in France

The relationship between the media and the young is characterized by desire and incomprehension: desire to be informed, to learn, to understand and to have fun; yet also the feeling of being left out, of having to sit through boring speech, irrelevant to their everyday preoccupations.     

释“童牛之牿”

“童牛之牿”中的“童牛”为小牛,“牿”为拴小牛时系在牛脸边带有小木板的拴牛之具,引申为拴.“童牛之牿”意思为把小牛拴起来,这表明小牛在逐渐长大.这一解释更符合大畜卦的卦义,也可以在河南汤阴及其周围地区得到实物验证.     

Religion and children’s perceptions of bullying in multicultural schools in Estonia,Finland and Sweden

ABSTRACT

The paper explores children and youths’ perceptions of the reasons for bullying in multicultural schools. How do their different backgrounds explain the variations in those perceptions? The questions will be answered based on data gathered from 9 to 10, 12 to 13 and 15 to 16-year-old students (N = 2781) in Estonia, Finland and Sweden. A survey and in-depth interviews were used in the study. About half of the students have been frequently or occasionally bullied. According to the data, the reasons for bullying were frequently attributed to visible external features, such as physical appearance or clothing, but also to the bullied students’ choice of friends and language use. The most vulnerable students are those with a migration background, those who speak a different language at home that is not the language of the national majority, or who have been raised in more religiously observant families.     

Dissatisfied psychotherapy patients: A tentative conceptual model grounded in the participants' view

Usually, between 5% and 20% of psychotherapy patients are dissatisfied with their treatments. This naturalistic study explores seven clearly dissatisfied patients' view of the therapeutic process and outcome. Interviews at termination of psychoanalytic psychotherapy and at a 1.5-year follow-up were analysed to create a tentative conceptual model of patient dissatisfaction using grounded theory approach. At the core of the model is an experience of abandonment by a therapist felt to be insufficiently flexible, a therapy lacking intensity, and links missing between therapy and everyday life. Dissatisfied patients lacked confidence in their relationship with the therapist, described their therapists in negative terms and concluded that their therapies lacked direction. They wanted more response from the therapist. Paying greater attention to the patient's emerging dissatisfaction may prevent lasting disappointment, unnecessary continuation of fruitless treatment, and probably increase efficiency.