Judith G. Smetana: Adolescents, Families, and Social Development: How Teens Construct Their Worlds

In Adolescents, Families and Social Development: How Teens Construct Their Worlds, Judith G. Smetana demonstrates how developmental scientists, including the author, believe that adults are overly pessimistic about adolescents and their normal development. Smetana emphasizes a great deal how growing up is not easy, especially during adolescence, and that conflicts and risks arise. Minor disruptions in adolescents’ relationships with parents or guardians will happen, but they most often lead to growth in the family and a change of dynamics that are positive. The author examines this issue by presenting the views of adolescents and their relationship with parents, through not only research findings but also the parents’ and adolescents’ voices. The book explores parent–child relationships in different cultures and how they relate to American families. The book seamlessly goes from one important topic to the next and helps readers understand just what it is about adolescents that makes them unique (developmentally and socially speaking) and why conflict may be in their best interest. Smetana believes that conflict within the family is normal and mainly constructive. Given the book’s message, while academics are the main audience of this book, it is clear that parents and their children also would benefit from reading about the different issues discussed in the text. …