Abstract
This chapter is a summary of the theoretical approach and the findings of The Tri-Ethnic Community Study initiated in 1960 in a small community in the Rocky Mountain west made up of Native Americans (Indians), long-time Spanish American residents, and Anglos (Whites). The formulation of an interdisciplinary, social-psychological theory to account for variation in alcohol use and other problem behaviors across and within the three ethnic groups is described, as are the findings generated by three converging studies in the community. This theoretical framework is the earliest version of what later became Problem Behavior Theory. Both the Sociocultural System and the Personality System of variables in the theory were significant predictors of alcohol use and other problem behaviors and, together, their explanatory account was even stronger. The limitations of the research are dealt with in detail as are its unique contributions. In the end, the chapter illuminates the meaning of ethnic status as a particular constellation of the social-psychological attributes in the theoretical framework.
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Jessor, R., Graves, T. D., Hanson, R. C., & Jessor, S. L. (1968). Chapter 13: “Overview and appraisal of theory and findings.” In R. Jessor, T. D. Graves, R. C. Hanson & S. L. Jessor, Society, personality, and deviant behavior: A study of a tri-ethnic community (pp. 407–421). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
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Jessor, R., Graves, T.D., Hanson, R.C., Jessor, S.L. (2016). Problem Behavior Theory: Initial Formulation for the Tri-Ethnic Community Study. In: The Origins and Development of Problem Behavior Theory. Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40886-6_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40886-6_3
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