Microblogs for Coming of Age in Samoa

Introduction


Reference Information:

Coming of Age in Samoa: A Psychological Study of Primitive Youth for Western Civilization

By Margaret Mead

Written in Samoa 1926-1928

Summary: 

The introduction discusses the differences in typical scientific experiments and the studies of an anthropologist.  Through this, the author states that anthropological study is the correct way to analyze why adolescents seem to have so much strife.  Finally she explains that she studied a group of about 50 girls in Samoa to determine if they struggled through the same things as American youths or if adolescent struggles are culturally dependent. 

Discussion:

I agree that scientific studies are not the correct way to analyze human problems because there are too many conditions that cannot be controlled.  I think it will be interesting to read about the Samoan culture and see if the youth there had similar problems with youth in America.  I think there will be common problems, but not for the same reasons.