The Price of Privilege

April 3, 2006
A practicing psychologist in Marin County, Calif., Levine counsels troubled teens from affluent families, and finds it paradoxical that wealth—which can open the door to travel and other enriching opportunities—can produce such depressed, anxious, angry and bored teenagers. After comparing notes with colleagues, she concluded that consumerism too often substitutes for the sorts of struggles that produce thoughtful, happy people. If objects satisfy people, then they never get around to working on deeper issues. The teen years are supposed to be a time for character building. Avoiding this hard work with the distraction of consumer toys can produce "vacant," "evacuated" or "disconnected" teens, Levine believes. She is particularly useful when explaining common parenting dilemmas, like the difference between being intrusive and being involved, between laying down rules and encouraging autonomy. Alas, while Levine pitches to the educated moms, since they do much of the actual child-rearing, she may be preaching to the choir. Those who need her most may be too busy shopping to pick up such a dire-looking volume. Still, school guidance counselors should be happy to have this clear, sensitive volume on their bookshelves.

April 15, 2006
Recent studies have shown that 22 percent of upper-middle-class adolescent girls (three times the national rate) suffer from clinical depression--a stark illustration of the old saw that money doesn't buy happiness. Psychologist Levine draws on clinical research, hundreds of case studies, and 25 years of treating troubled adolescents from well-to-do families to explore the rise in mental and emotional disorders among privileged youth. Levine offers portraits of adolescents from homes of parental involvement and material advantage in which the children nonetheless suffer from addictions, anxiety and eating disorders, depression, and self-destructive behavior. Levine makes the case for why these young people are as much "at risk" as those from lower economic backgrounds and how the culture of affluence can stifle self-development. She offers advice on effective techniques to reduce pressure from parents to succeed in school and to heighten adolescent autonomy and self-discipline. In this insightful book, Levine eschews the temptation to dismiss problems of privileged teens as overindulgence.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)

April 15, 2006
The phrase "poor little rich kid" is generally uttered with disdain by those who've had to struggle in life about those with more material and social advantages who nonetheless often manage to be miserable. Levine, a practicing clinical psychologist with 20 years of experience treating troubled children and adolescents, makes the case that our society cannot afford to trivialize the -mental health crisis - among the children of the affluent. In her private practice, she has encountered many children and teens from wealthy backgrounds who have no conception of self and as a result feel empty. Writing with clarity and understanding of the culture of affluence and its pitfalls for parents, the author reminds readers of the universal needs of children, privileged or not, for connection and discipline from parents and defines the meaning of those terms. Well-organized chapters help parents understand how to take the time and show the patience to help their children realize their potential, sometimes in spite of the -advantages - their comfortable lifestyles might offer them. A good choice for parenting collections in libraries with clients in the middle to upper socioeconomic ranges. (Index not seen.) [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 3/15/06.]" -Kay Hogan Smith, Univ. of Alabama Lib., Birmingham"

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