Selves-in-Relation: School Leavers’ Accommodation to Different Interpersonal and Situational Demands

Abstract

The position taken in this chapter is that consideration of coping strategies ought necessarily to involve the concepts of self and identity. In this regard, it shall first be argued that a focus on only the self-concept is too narrow, since it is imperative to consider selves in relation to other persons and situations. This overview will be followed by a review of research concerning the status of relatively poorly qualified young people in the United Kingdom, where a number of the “developmental tasks” summarised by Jackson and Bosma (Chap. 1) can be seen to be particularly problematic at a time of high youth unemployment. The central issue of appropriate research strategies will also be considered: a brief discussion of questionnaire methods, interviewing and participant observation is followed by a summary of the authors’ research design.