Family Matters The Importance of Mattering to Family in Adolescence

Mattering--the sense that one makes a difference in the lives of others--is the most powerful motivator within the self-concept. Mattering is a fundamental safeguard that makes people aware of their connections to the larger social order; it gives evidence that we are integrated into society, and are free to pursue our goals knowing that we are not alone. The motivational impact of mattering is particularly pronounced in adolescence. During this time of personal upheaval, it is especially important to know that one matters to others; this knowledge serves as an anchor in this developmental stage of life. In this book, Gregory Elliott explores the effects of mattering to one's family on adolescent behavior. He presents evidence that those who feel that they matter to their families are much less likely to engage in anti-social or self-destructive behaviors and suggests how parents, teachers, and any significant others can help instill a sense of mattering in the lives of adolescents in their care. The clear understanding that they matter will help protect young people from the threats to wellbeing that are so prevalent in adolescence and will encourage them to navigate smoothly through these difficult years.

Nothing may matter more for the healthy development of young people than a belief that they matter: that they are valued by others and that they can make meaningful contributions to their world. More so than any other book, Family Matters explains the crucial role of mattering in the lives of adolescents. Gregory Elliott s unique, timely, and compelling scholarship has vital implications for research and applications aimed at promoting positive youth development, and is of profound importance for enhancing the quality of family life in America. Richard Lerner, Bergstrom Chair in Applied Developmental Science, Director of Institute for Applied Research in Youth Development, Eliot Pearson Department of Child Development, Tufts University This thoughtful and entertaining book introduces an important new concept to the psychology of interpersonal relations. People need to eat and sleep, to love, and to belong, but they also need to matter to others. Drawing from popular culture, personal experience, and scientific research, Gregory Elliott has provided a marvelous introduction to understanding why mattering matters. Roy F. Baumeister, Social Psychology Area Director and Francis Eppes Eminent Scholar, Florida State University, and author of The Cultural Animal Elliott has given us a very important and timely book. Today s youth are in tremendous need of the opportunity to feel like they matter. Elliott s analyses demonstrate the importance of feeling like one matters to one s family for healthy functioning during adolescence. He also provides us with a stimulating theoretical discussion of the importance of mattering and the ways in which it is supported by social experience. This book should be of great interest to parents, educators, policy makers, and researchers. Jacquelynne Eccles, McKeachie Collegiate Professor of Psychology, Women s Studies, and Education, University of Michigan