Children of the Great Depression

In this volume, Glen Elder gives us two classics in one. He does so by bringing together in one place two closely related bodies of his work, widely separated in their original date of publication, but highly relevant today both for advancing developmental research and for addressing the critical problems that confront American society at this point in our history. In his earlier work, Children of the Great Depression, republished here after a quarter of a century, Elder challenged the then-prevailing, age- and stage-focused developmental theories and research designs by demonstrating, with compelling data, the profound effects of historical change on human development not only in the formative years but throughout the life course. That challenge still applies.

But Glen Elder has moved on. In a provocative last chapter based on analyses of successive follow-up studies conducted since the publication of his 1974 volume, Elder reports further evidence of a turnaround in developmentally disruptive trends: "To an unexpected degree, these children of the Great Depression followed a trajectory of resilience into the middle years of life. They were doing better than expected from the perspective of their social origins" (pp. 15-16). Among the subsequent life-course experiences identified as contributing most to this emergence of resilience and coping behavior were the following: taking advantage of newly created opportunities for obtaining higher education; marriage as a source of critical support during the young adult years; and, especially, service in the military. The beneficial effects of these experiences were not simply additive; they reinforced each other. For example, military service "frequently provided new options for marriage and advanced education. Mobilization into the armed forces exposed men to potential mates and opened up opportunities for skill training and higher education....Related to each of these developmental experiences is the educational opportunity offered by the GI Bill of Rights....For example, nearly half of the California veterans reported having completed an educational degree on the GI Bill" (pp. 17-18). Also, the benefits were especially effective where they could make the biggest difference; for instance, "for veterans with a delinquent past who had entered the service at a young age. All of these experiences enhanced occupational job status, job stability, and economic well-being, independent of childhood differences and socioeconomic origins up to the middle years" (p. 22). As Elder himself said, "We don't need wars to open up such opportunities."

His repeated references to the GI Bill culminate in both a warning and a call to action for our times: "But not even great talent and industry can ensure life success over adversity without opportunity" (p. 26).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1998 Foreword by Urie Bronfenbrenner I. Crisis and Adaptation: An Introduction 1. The Depression Experience The Research Problem and Approach Socioeconomic Conditions in Oakland and the Nation Researching the Past: A Cautionary Note 2. Adaptations to Economic Deprivation Deprivation and Adaptations in the Family Status Change in Personality and Achievement Adaptive Potential and Personality
II. Coming of Age in the Depression 3. Economic Deprivation and Family Status Economic Deprivation and Father's Worklife Social Factors in Economic Change Family Adaptations in Economic Maintenance Some Effects of Status Loss on Parents Review 4. Children in the Household Economy Children's Economic and Domestic Roles Children's Tasks as a Developmental Experience The Downward Extension of Adult Experience 5. Family Relations Economic Deprivation and Marital Power Parents as Significant Others Views of Family and Parents from Adulthood Economic Change in Family Experience: A Summary View 6. Status Change and Personality Children's Image of Self and Others Self-Orientations and Social Status Social Status and Striving Social Change and the Self: A Concluding Note
III. The Adult Years 7. Earning a Living: Adult Lives of the Oakland Men Adult Status in the Life Course of the Oakland Cohort Vocational Development in Worklife Experience Occupational Attainment in the Life Course Men's Values: A Legacy of the Depression? A Resumé 8. Leading a Contingent Life: Adult Lives of the Oakland Women Contingencies in a Woman's Life Events and Patterns in the Life Course Economic Deprivation in the Life Course "A Woman's Place Is in the Home" The Depression Experience in Women's Roles 9. Personality in Adult Experience Childhood Deprivation in Adult Health Parenthood as Problem Situation and Growth Experience Reviewing the Past Perspectives on Politics and the Future
IV. The Depression Experience in Life Patterns 10. Children of the Great Depression The Approach and Other Options Depression Experiences in Personality and the Life Course Central Themes from the Depression Experience
V. Beyond "Children of the Great Depression" 11. Beyond "Children of the Great Depression" Early Thinking and Paradigmatic Principles The Emergence of life Course Theory Turning Lives Around Reflections Epilogue

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