Book

Transformations: immigration, family life, and achievement motivation among Latino adolescents

Stanford University PressStanford, Calif.Published In 1995 • Pages:

By: Suárez-Orozco, Carola, Suárez-Orozco, Marcelo M..

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This book focuses on key aspects of the problem of Mexican immigration to the United States, with particular emphasis on the puzzling differences between adolescents born in Mexico and those born in the United States. 'Whereas Mexico-born adolescents are highly motivated to learn English and use the educational system to improve their lot, U.S.- born adolescents seem angry, frustrated, and less interested in academic achievement' (rear cover). To answer the question of what accounts for these differences, the authors seek answers in a psychological and cultural study of four separate groups of adolescents: one group from a town in Mexico characterized by a high rate of migration; a second group that had migrated to the United States with their families; the third, a second-generation group of Latinos; and a final group of white American adolescents. Using a combination of structured interviews, psychological tests (primarily the Thematic Apperception Test ), and ethnographic observations, the authors strive to find answers to such questions as: How is achievement motivation patterned in Mexican family life? What are the main issues facing U.S.- born Latino adolescents? Howdo the concerns of white American adolescents differ from those of other groups? What happens to immigrant families as children shift cultural values in the new country? 'Among the many significant conclusions to emerge from this study is that whereas Mexicans see their achievements in the context of family obligations, white adolescents struggle with issues of independence and ambivalence toward authority, and U. S.- born Latinos -- hybrid children of two worlds -- share concerns with both white and Mexico-born peers' (rear cover).
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Tests and schedules administered in the field
Organization and analysis of results of research
External migration
Comparative evidence
Education system
cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Chicanos
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
2002
RegionThe area the document pertains to
North America
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
Book
Evaluation
Creator TypesThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
Human Development
Psychology
Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
John Beierle ; 2001
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
no date
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
1970s-1990s
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
United States
NotesAdditional notes
Carola and Marcelo Suárez-Orozco
Includes bibliographical references (p. [237]-258) and index
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
95016448
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Mexican Americans