Social Change and Psychosocial Adaptation in the Pacific Islands: Cultures in Transition (International and Cultural Psychology) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0387232923 ISBN 13: 9780387232928

Publisher: Springer, 2005

Synopsis

The Pacific Island oceanic and rim nations include many traditional societies and emerging nations that have experienced abusive histories of colonization, exploitation, and social change and upheaval. Their peoples are struggling to restore traditional cultural heritages and identities in a world community dominated by Western values and lifestyles. The conflicts, uncertainties, and instability of this transitional time are reflected in these populations’ current social and psychological difficulties. This volume is one of the few devoted to these issues and covering a range of problems including substance abuse, hopelessness, violence, crime, abuse, juvenile delinquency, suicide, and AIDS.

About this title

Synopsis

The history of the Pacific Islands is noted for great upheavals, from colonization to tribal warfare, natural disasters to nuclear testing. More recently, political change, increasing technology and urbanization, and conflict between traditional and Western cultures have led to considerable social problems in the region. Substance and alcohol abuse, violence, cultural displacement, and suicide bring uncertainty to day-to-day life and stretch already overextended social resources. "Social Change and Psychosocial Adaptation in the Pacific Islands" sensitively balances situations applicable across this vast geographical area with data and events relevant to individual nations in Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia. Chapters are written by native clinicians, cultural anthropologists, cross-cultural psychologists, and other professionals serving the region, specifically focusing on: Hawaii, Aboriginal Australia, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Guam, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.

Each provides historical background, details the country's ethnic makeup, summarizes major cultural identity/survival issues, and examines its existing health care and mental health care systems. The tasks ahead are large. Practitioners, researchers, and other professionals working with the peoples of the Pacific need culturally attuned resources to better collaborate on interventions, prevention programs, and policy. "Social Change and Psychosocial Adaptation in the Pacific Islands" rises to this complex challenge.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2005
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0387232923
• ISBN 13: 9780387232928
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 325
• Editor: Marsella Anthony J., Austin Ayda Aukahi, Grant Bruce