Synopses & Reviews
Handbook of Race and Development in Mental Health Edward C. Chang and Christina A. Downey, editors The early decades of psychology were concerned with pathology: its causes, identification, and treatment. Eventually this foundation expanded to include positive aspects of human behavior, such as intelligence, creativity, and love. But even as positive psychology grew insignificance, it was limited on two fronts--its universalism, ignoring the role of cultural differences, and its focus on young adults, marginalizing the very real experiences of children and elders. The Handbook of Race and Development in Mental Health addresses both shortcomings with knowledge and accessibility. For each of the major racial groups in the United States,chapters explore risk and protective factors in children, social support systems, challenges of inequality, the roles of culture and context in coping,prevalent psychological conditions, barriers to help-seeking, aging-related issues, and other key areas. This cultural/lifespan approach offers enlightening points of comparison and contrast, particularly for the clinical or counseling practitioner. A sampling of the topics included in the Handbook: African Americans: effects of parenting styles on children; coping strategies and John Henryism in adults.Native Americans/Alaska Natives: intergenerational trauma; spiritual practice and well-being.Asian Americans: the "model minority" stereotype; peer support and wellness.European Americans: why children may be underrepresented in the literature.Latinos: bilingualism; biculturalism; acculturative stress.Guidelines for incorporating lifespan and positive psychology into multicultural competence.
Review
From the reviews: "Using a positive psychology model, this book considers the five largest racial groups in the United States ... across the lifespan. ... The audience includes researchers, practitioners, and students in various disciplines in psychology ... and social work. ... Numerous figures and tables help clarify the text. Many of the chapters end with conclusions and future recommendations. ... It is easy to read and gives practical ideas for intervention. ... It will be a great addition to any clinician's library." (Gary B. Kaniuk, Doody's Review Service, March, 2012) "Handbook of Race and Development in Mental Health is novel in its comprehensive approach to positive psychology across race and life span ... .
Synopsis
This project is unique in the field for a number of reasons, both in structure and in content. Specifically, it will have leading experts on specific age groups (Childhood to Adolescence, Young Adulthood to Middle Age, and The Elderly) within the cultural groups of interest (European-Americans, African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Native Americans) contribute a chapter covering current research on both positive and negative functioning for each population. Each chapter will present basic demographic information, strengths that contribute to resilience, and three significant challenges each group faces to maintaining mental health. Each chapter will then include an integrative section, where ideas are advanced about how the strengths of each group can be harnessed to address the challenges that group faces. To conclude, each chapter will propose future directions for research which addresses integrative approaches to mental health for each group, and the implications that such approaches could have for future treatment. The main points of each section of each chapter will be visually summarized in a concluding table.
Synopsis
Each chapter of this book offers comprehensive detail and analysis of a specific sub-set of the covered cultural groups, with basic demographics, mental health challenges, practical solutions and future research directions, plus a detailed summary table.
About the Author
Edward C. Chang is Professor of Clinical Psychology and a Faculty Associate in Asian/Pacific Islander American Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He received his B.A. in psychology and philosophy from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Chang completed his APA-accredited clinical internship at Bellevue Hospital Center-New York University Medical Center. He serves as a program evaluator for the Michigan Department of Community Health - Social Determinants of Health, working with the Asian Center Southeast Michigan. Dr. Chang also serves as an Associate Editor of Cognitive Therapy and Research, the Asian American Journal of Psychology, and the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. He has published more than a hundred empirical and scholarly works focusing on optimism and pessimism, perfectionism, loneliness, social problem solving, and cultural influences on behavior. Dr. Chang is the editor of Optimism and Pessimism: Implications for Theory, Research, and Practice (2001), Self-Criticism and Self-Enhancement: Theory, Research, and Clinical Implications (2007), and Handbook of Adult Psychopathology In Asians: Diagnosis, Etiology, and Treatment (forthcoming), and is a co-editor of Virtue, Vice, and Personality: The Complexity of Behavior (2003), Social Problem Solving: Theory, Research, and Training (2004), and Judgments Over Time: The Interplay of Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors (2006).
Table of Contents
Introduction.- Integrating Positive Psychology and Developmental Viewpoints into Cross-Cultural Mental Health.- II.- A Historical Perspective.- A History of Cross-Cultural Clinical Psychology, and its Importance to Mental Health Today.- III.- European Americans.- Psychology of Children.- Psychology of Adults.- Psychology of Elderly.- IV.- African Americans.- Psychology of Children.-Psychology of Adults.- Psychology of Elderly.- V.- Asian Americans.- Psychology of Children.- Psychology of Adults.- Psychology of Elderly.- VI.- Hispanic Americans.- Psychology of Children.- Psychology of Adults.- Psychology of Elderly.- VII.- Native Americans.- Psychology of Children.- Psychology of Adults.- Psychology of Elderly.- VIII.- Conclusion.- Emerging Trends and Future Challenges.