title: Identity processes and the positive youth development of African Americans: an explanatory framework.
abstract: This chapter presents Spencer's phenomenological variant of ecological systems theory, or PVEST (1995), as a conceptual framework for examining positive youth development. Contextual factors affecting racial and gender identity of African American youth are discussed, with the focus on the influence of schools and religious institutions.
authors.affiliation: College of Health and Human Development, Pennsylvania State University, USA.
authors.forename: Dena Phillips
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: Margaret Beale
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Tabitha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dell'Angelo
authors.forename: Vinay
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Harpalani
authors.forename: Tirzah R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Spencer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent / Q000941:ethics*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012574:Schools / Q000941:ethics; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D012933:Social Identification