Lene Arnett Jensen

Coming of Age in a Multicultural World: Globalization and Adolescent Cultural Identity Formation

The aim of this article is to explore implications of globalization for adolescent cultural identity formation. The thesis is that adolescents increasingly form multicultural identities because they grow up knowing diverse cultural beliefs and behaviors. First, ways that adolescents increasingly have exposure to different cultures are illustrated with ethnographic and cross-cultural work. Then, 3 emerging research issues are raised: (a) the extent to which it is important whether a multicultural identity is based on first-hand versus indirect (media-based) interactions with diverse peoples, (b) how cultural identity formation may take diverse developmental paths depending on the particular cultures involved, and (c) gains and losses that occur when persons form a multicultural identity rather than an identity based primarily on one cultural tradition. Finally, the article suggests using multiple methods that are sensitive to different perspectives in research on globalization and adolescent identity formation.The aim of this article is to explore implications of globalization for adolescent cultural identity formation. The thesis is that adolescents increasingly form multicultural identities because they grow up knowing diverse cultural beliefs and behaviors. First, ways that adolescents increasingly have exposure to different cultures are illustrated with ethnographic and cross-cultural work. Then, 3 emerging research issues are raised: (a) the extent to which it is important whether a multicultural identity is based on first-hand versus indirect (media-based) interactions with diverse peoples, (b) how cultural identity formation may take diverse developmental paths depending on the particular cultures involved, and (c) gains and losses that occur when persons form a multicultural identity rather than an identity based primarily on one cultural tradition. Finally, the article suggests using multiple methods that are sensitive to different perspectives in research on globalization and adolescent identity forma...

Globalization and Cultural Identity

This chapter starts by presenting quantitative and qualitative findings to illustrate how adolescents and emerging adults increasingly have exposure to different cultures and a global world. One consequence of adolescents’ and emerging adults’ exposure to diverse cultures is that cultural identity development becomes a more complex process that may follow a variety of pathways. Recent theoretical and empirical work is used to describe plural pathways. Next, the argument is made that with the opening up of plural developmental pathways for cultural identity formation come both risks and opportunities. With regard to risks, the present focus is on cultural identity confusion and mental health, and the emergence of cultural gaps within families between adolescents and their parents or elders. In regard to opportunities, the focus is on youth civic involvement.

Immigrants' Cultural Identities as Sources of Civic Engagement

Immigrant parents (first generation) and adolescents (second generation) from El Salvador and India (N = 80) took part in interviews on civic engagement. The immigrants were almost unanimous in regarding civic engagement as important. They also were engaged themselves, more so at the community than the political level. One third of immigrants were engaged in community activities that specifically had a cultural focus or occurred through cultural organizations, and the comparable number for political activities was 25%. Cultural motives (i.e., a cultural or immigrant sense of self) were twice as likely to be mentioned as sources of engagement rather than disengagement. Qualitative analyses of these cultural motives revealed seven engagement themes (e.g., cultural tradition of service) and three of disengagement (e.g., ethnic exclusion).

Moral divisions within countries between orthodoxy and progressivism : India and the United States : Religion in global perspective

Recently, scholars have argued that divisions have emerged within many countries between tendencies toward orthodoxy or fundamentalism on the one hand, and progressivism or modernism on the other hand. In the present study, interviews assessing moral evaluation and reasoning were carried out with individuals in India and the United States who might be expected to tend toward orthodoxy and progressivism (N = 80, ages 35-55). In both countries, progressivists reasoned more in terms of Shweders (1990) Ethic of Autonomy than orthodox participants, whereas orthodox participants reasoned more in terms of the Ethic of Divinity than progressivists. However, cross-cultural differences were also found. Progressivist Americans more than progressivist Indians tended toward hyperindividualism.

Different Worldviews, Different Morals: America’s Culture War Divide

In this article, it is argued that moral reasoning is premised upon more comprehensive worldviews, and it is suggested that moral behaviors in part serve to maintain these worldviews. A worldview is d

Immigrant Civic Engagement: New Translations

On virtually a daily basis, American news media feature stories about immigrants. Many of these stories touch on questions about the balance between immigrants’ civil rights and responsibilities, the extent to which they are a cost or benefit to local communities and society in general, and the nature of their commitment to the United States and American values. Recently, too, there seems to have been an increase in news stories about immigrants entering into the public debate through various forms of civic engagement, ranging from public marches to local community projects to student walkouts to lawsuits against state and federal agencies. This special issue of Applied Developmental Science (ADS) spotlights civic engagement in immigrants, with an emphasis on immigrant youth whose engagement is important not only in the present but also in the future. Although the social sciences include research on immigrant youth, much of it has focused on academic achievement and family relations. Much like the research in the broader field of youth development, attention to civic development and engagement is missing. At the same time a national political debate is taking place about immigration, citizenship, and what it means to be ‘‘American.’’ This ADS issue brings a set of fresh interdisciplinary perspectives to the discourse on immigration and civic engagement by reframing the meaning of civic engagement and casting it within the contexts of the lives of different immigrant groups. AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH

Socialization and Risk Behavior in Two Countries: Denmark and the United States.

Rates of risk behavior are discussed in terms of the differences and similarities in the socialization environments of Denmark and the United States. Adolescents aged 17-18 in middle-class communities in the two countries were compared on various aspects of socialization and risk behavior. Overall, socialization was narrower among the Danish adolescents, in the sense that they had more household obligations, greater community stability, and more adults beyond their immediate families who were involved in their socialization. Rates of risk behavior were higher for American adolescents in the areas of automobile driving (high-speed and drunk driving) and minor criminal behavior (shoplifting and vandalism), whereas Danish adolescents were higher in their rates of driving a bicycle or moped while intoxicated. Danish adolescents had higher rates of sexual intercourse than American adolescents, but American adolescents were less likely to use contraception, so the overall rates of sex without contraception were almost identical in the two countries.

Culture wars: American moral divisions across the adult lifespan

Sociologists have argued that the public moral debate in contemporary America is characterized by a “culture war,” pitting “orthodox” and “progressivist” groups against one another (Hunter, 1991). This study addressed whether the culture war is evident in the moral thinking of ordinary Americans, and whether age-related patterns exist. Sixty fundamentalist Baptists (orthodox) and 60 mainline Baptists (progressivist) evaluated and reasoned about moral issues such as divorce and abortion. Each group was divided evenly into three age groups copsisting of young, midlife, and older adults. Moral reasoning was analyzed in terms of Shweders (1990) ethics of autonomy, community, and divinity. Within all three age groups, progressivists used the ethic of, autonomy more than orthodox participants. Orthodox participants used the ethic of divinity more than progressivists. Orthodox and progressivist groups did not differ much in their use of the ethic, of community. Very few age group differences were found within the orthodox and progressivist groups. It is concluded that morality is conceived of in markedly different wasy by orthodox and progressivist groups, and that these conceptions are consistent across age groups.

Validation of the Long- and Short-Form of the Ethical Values Assessment (EVA): A Questionnaire Measuring the Three Ethics Approach to Moral Psychology.

Moral psychology has been moving toward consideration of multiple kinds of moral concepts and values, such as the Ethics of Autonomy, Community, and Divinity. While these three ethics have commonly been measured qualitatively, the current study sought to validate the long and short forms of the Ethical Values Assessment (EVA), which is a questionnaire developed on the basis of the standard coding manual for the three ethics. Two studies were conducted, the first with a sample of 551 college students (18–29 years, 60% female, 61% European American) and the second with a nationally representative sample of 1,519 individuals (18–93 years, 51% female, 72% European American). Results from Study 1 indicated that a three factor solution using the EVA_L (long form) had adequate model fit, and internal reliability and validity of all three subscales were established. Results from Study 2 showed that model fit for a three-factor solution using the EVA_S (short form) was also acceptable. Measurement invariance as a function of age was established for some subscales and age groups, but not others. Discussion focuses on the implications of this measure for moral psychology and important future research directions.

“There’s More Between Heaven and Earth” Danish Emerging Adults’ Religious Beliefs and Values

In a qualitative interview study, 18 Danish emerging adults (ages 18-27) were asked about their religious beliefs and moral views. Most had received little or no formal religious training within their families, but they nevertheless participated in the “confirmation” process in the Danish state Lutheran church at age 14. Regarding their current beliefs, the majority were nonbelievers (agnostic, atheist, or no beliefs), and none expressed a traditional Christian faith. Nevertheless, they held a variety of beliefs in some kind of life after death; relatively few participants believed that death is simply the end of existence. In the two questions assessing moral views, participants drew from the Ethic of Autonomy and the Ethic of Community, but not the Ethic of Divinity. This finding also indicated the absence of religious considerations in the lives of Danish emerging adults. Overall, the results provide further information on the religious and moral beliefs of emerging adults, and on views of religious questions in an exceptionally nonreligious country.