NCJ Number
170904
Date Published
1995
Length
222 pages
Annotation
Based on interviews with teens and their parents, this book examines youths' need for friendship, the dynamics of various types of friendships, and how parents can assist their children in selecting positive friendships and avoid negative ones.
Abstract
Seven chapters discuss how America's teenagers make friends. The first chapter notes that contemporary American society tends to expect teens to jump from childhood to adulthood without having to experience the growth process of the teen years. Teens, on the other hand, wish to use their teen years to enjoy friendships as a primary source for personal development and relational satisfactions. Dynamic friendships require that teenagers nurture their friendship bonds with others. This involves maximizing the positive influences while minimizing the negative ones. Other chapters focus on how teens struggle with maintaining their individuality in friendships and groups while complying with group norms to gain acceptance. The affirmation of self is important in selecting friends with whom one is compatible, but at the same time, friendship requires an openness to positive change in interaction with those who are affirming their individuality. Six chapters focus on getting parents involved in guiding their children in dealing with friendship issues as their children select friends and struggle with problems that arise in established friendships. Parents are cautioned not to push their children into groups or particular friendships or criticize their children for not having close friends. Parents must respect their children's own styles for building friendships and guide their children within the context of this style. A 55-item bibliography and a subject index