American Psychological Assn.

Gender and occupational outcomes; longitudinal assessment of individual, social, and cultural influences.

Women no longer have to choose among secretarial work, nursing or teaching as their only available professions, but the fact remains they are significant under-represented in engineering, technological, mathematical and science careers. Here the question of why women do not enter these fields of endeavor gets a rigorous longitudinal analysis combining commentary from social and developmental psychologists and experts in human development, biology, education and sociology. They address such concerns as the relations among gender and math achievement with occupational aspirations of Canadian youth, curricular effects on gnedered career choices, motivations for sex-stereotyped careers, high school course selection as a precursor of gendered careers, predictors of self-perceived ability in math, sociomotivational analyses of gender effects on persistence in science and technology studies, desires for family-friendly jobs, long-term impacts of gendered jobs, prenatal androgen effects and gendered occupational outcomes, and social and institutional constraints on women's career development. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The I/O consultant; advice and insights for building a successful career.

Since consulting is one of the most rapidly-growing career paths in the United States, editors Hedge (a human resources expert with over 30 years of experience) and Borman (U. of South Florida) teamed up to produce this guide to the fundamentals in the field. Their colleagues contribute a number of essays on such I/O (industrial and organizational) topics as working as an independent consultant, networking, recruiting, performance management and strategic planning. This book has been written for graduate students of psychology, and anyone who wishes to embark upon an I/O consulting career. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Inclusive cultural empathy: making relationships central in counseling and psychotherapy.

Drawing on their extensive experience in psychology and multicultural counseling, Pedersen (Syracuse U. and U. of Hawaii), Crethar (U. of Arizona), and Carlson (Governors State U., University Park, Illinois) examine the ways that cultural similarities and differences influence empathic relationships in the counseling process, and how empathy in counseling and other therapeutic and human service-oriented work can become less individualist and more relationship centered, and therefore, more multicultural. The text offers critique and exploration of the empathy construct, with discussion based on research and the authors' own teaching and learning about multicultural counseling over the years. For teachers, students, and practitioners of counseling and helping services in psychologically- based professions. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Multiculturalism and intergroup relations; psychological implications for democracy in global context.

Exploring both the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization and increased intergroup contact, Moghaddam (psychology, Georgetown U., Washington,D.C.) applies psychological theories on intergroup relations to a variety of cultures and conflicts, and considers what psychological research might contribute to an understanding of democracy and the management of cultural diversity. Coverage includes an overview of diversity in international and national contexts; a critical analysis of intergroup theories and research around the themes of irrationality, materialism, identify, and justice, and implications of these four perspectives for democracy; and an examination of the compatibility of assimilation and multiculturalism for democracy. For students, researchers, academics, and professionals in the areas of diversity, intergroup relations, and democracy in national and international contexts. A native of Iran, Moghaddam was educated in England, researched and worked for the UN in Iran, and taught at McGill U., Toronto, before joining Georgetown U. in 1990. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Women street hustlers; who they are and how they survive.

Rockell is currently a professor of sociology at St. John Fisher College. However her interest in female repeat offenders is far from academic. She worked for many years in criminal justice departments before finishing her doctorate. Along with her experience in law enforcement, she also interviewed women in the jails of Rochester, New York. These are women generally arrested for drug dealing, prostitution, petty theft or fraud. They have generally been seen as a group, victimized by men. Rockell's conclusions support some of the beliefs that most of these women came from abusive homes but she also points out the variety of experiences and the different ways in which individual women react. She has defined several types of women, from those who see hustling as a way to make quick money, to those so traumatized by their lives that they can't imagine anything more. Where Rockell differs from other sociologists is that she feels that most of the women are not passive victims but active agents determined to survive in any way they can. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)