An examination of educational and achievement aspirations of New Zealand, Chinese, and European secondary school students shows that Chinese students have the highest educational orientation, largely due to parental attitudes. A study of Israeli adolescents' comprehension and evaluation of democracy found a positive view of democracy but a poor ability to characterize democracy and apply democratic principles in a univeralistic fashion. A comparative study of the United States, the United Kingdom, and India examines the effectiveness of political action in these countries. A study of adolescents' conceptions of "moral" in Haiti, the United States, and Zambia shows that American students attribute more rights and privileges to minorities and to animals. A study that examines the activities of a youth subculture shows how its activities both represent and are consequences of resistance. The concluding study focuses on the role of athletics in the social world of high school adolescents, with attention to its long-term impact on self-esteem and life development. Article references and tables.