The primary aim of this project is to conduct developmental research on the socialization practices employed by African American families and to understand the processes by which African American children are prepared to participate successfully in the society-at-large. Through the process of socialization, individuals learn the attitudes, skills, and values necessary to function adequately in society. The existing literature on the normative developmental experience of African American children is quantitatively and qualitatively inadequate. Moreover, family and environmental influences have been largely ignored in previous empirical work on personal and group identity development in African Americans. Given that the existing data on the normative development of African American children is inadequate or in many areas non-existent, the research goals are to (1) identify socialization practices utilized by African American parents; (2) determine normative developmental processes and outcomes for African American children; (3) determine which developmental outcomes are valued by African American parents; and (4) relate differential personality and behavioral outcomes to various socialization practices employed. The proposal is designed as a five year cross-sectional and longitudinal project. Two hundred African American males and two hundred African American females (i.e., fifty of each gender ages 6, 9, 12 and 15), as well as their parent/caregiver, teacher, and a peer will participate in this study. A combined structured/exploratory approach will be employed. The current research program has already implemented a series of studies to develop and validate socialization constructs using a Q sort procedure. The Black Family Process Sort (BFPS) is an instrument designed to assess differential socialization practices among African American families, to ascertain variable patterns that pertain to racial identity, discipline, family communication, and values. This new and innovative method will be employed to investigate racial orientation (group identity), parenting processes and developmental outcomes within our sample.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD030614-04
Application #
2202939
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRC (03))
Project Start
1993-04-01
Project End
1998-11-30
Budget Start
1996-04-01
Budget End
1998-11-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1996
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Riverside
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
City
Riverside
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92521