Phinney, and Al Waterman were able to participate in a week of both
small group and public meetings held at Victoria University of Welling-
ton on the theme, Adolescent Identity and Mental Health. In the pages
ahead, contributors address issues that were presented to small group dis-
cussion meetings in Wellington. Topics ranged from the need to utilize
an identity construct to understand adolescents' educational decision-
making, to the process of identity formation for adolescents of ethnic
minority groups, to the relational roots, integrative functions, and per-
sonally expressive dimensions of identity, to constructivist views, fea-
tures of structural transitions, and methodological issues of current
concern in identity research. Chapters also include edited versions of the
discussions among contributors that followed their brief presentations
at the small group meetings. Through the format of this volume, it is
hoped that both students and professionals interested in the identity for-
mation process can gain greater insights into present theory and research
directions from some of those whose research energies have focused on
this exciting arena of human development.

Many individuals and organizations helped to make this volume become
a reality. The Canadian High Commission, the John Ilott Charitable Trust,
the Roy McKenzie Foundation, the New Zealand Association for Research
on Education, and Victoria University of Wellington all contributed gener-
ously in terms of financial support so that researchers and human ser-
vices professionals in New Zealand might have opportunities for
interchange with contributors. The Center for Continuing Education and
the Stout Research Center at Victoria University assisted with organiza-
tional details of public meetings, and their efforts are greatly appreciat-
ed. To Hugh Lauder, Chairperson of the Department of Education and
Doug Walker, Center for Continuing Education, both at Victoria Univer-
sity of Wellington, I would like to express my deep gratitude and special
thanks--their support for the project never waivered and their encourage-
ment helped me through those times when one or more of Murphy's Laws
commanded the day! Steve Haslett's practical thoughts and assistance have
been much appreciated throughout the meetings and preparation of this
volume. And finally to editors at Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, who have
assisted greatly with the myriad of details in the production process, I
express my sincere appreciation.

Jane Kroger

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