Learning to Live Together: Preventing Hatred and Violence in Child and Adolescent Development

With a view to deepening our understanding of sources of hatred and prejudice, this book uses a developmental and evolutionary perspective to explore and explain the process by which our beliefs are conveyed to the youngest members of society. Discussing the psychological obstacles to peaceful relations between groups, the authors focus on the developmental processes by which we can work to diminish ethnocentrism, prejudice, and hatred, which children learn from a very early age. Until now, scholarship and practice in international relations have gravely neglected crucial psychological aspects of these terrible problems and have not yet explored the educational opportunities related to them. Addressing these promising lines of inquiry and innovation, this book fosters a more humane and less violent development in childhood and adolescence. Educators, religious leaders, developmental and social psychologists, will find this a valuable resource, as will a socially concerned segment of the public who are looking for practical ways to work for peace.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Saisha Gupta, MD(Rush University Medical Center)
Description:This book depicting the roots of conflict and what can be done to help reduce prejudice and hatred is quite an accomplishment by the authors.
Purpose:The purpose is to improve understanding of conflicts among humans while addressing such issues from a developmental and social psychological perspective. This book also provides ways in which we can all learn to live together.
Audience:This book is of particular interest to mental health workers including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers, and teachers, parents, and policy makers.
Features:This book starts with child development and different factors related to conflict and then progresses to how individuals, groups, schools, and the media can help in the peace process and can help reduce prejudice and hatred.
Assessment:This book is very detailed. It not only provides examples from history, but most importantly, it offers solutions that each one of us can use. It is an inspiring piece of work.