This study provides a sociological account of the child star as both a universal and culturally specific phenomenon. Arguing against dominant 'common-sense' definitions of child stars as precociously deviant, I relocate the child star as a product of wider social contradictions and constructions surrounding children and childhood more generally. Through an analysis of the way in which child stars are constructed in the textual media I demonstrate two central and competing discourses in relation to this group - one which focuses on their powerlessness due to their 'abnormal' status in relation to 'normal' children and the other which celebrates their power due to their 'natural' talents and redemptive qualities. These contradictory- positions are identified through a consideration of the historical and mythological antecedents of today's child stars as well as an analysis of the contemporary discourses which inform news stories about such individuals. I argue that such ambiguity towards child stars can be identified as symptomatic of complex attitudes towards children in our society. The hostility which subjectifies child stars and generates powerlessness can be understood as emanating from the habitual association of performing children with precocious sexuality, the commercialisation of childhood and the fear that children are 'growing up too quickly'. In contrast, the adoration of child stars which imbues them with the power to be reinvented with every new generation can be related to a more profound universal need to reify and admire a small number of 'special' children -a practice which is identifiable across the myths and folklore of the world (Jung 1959). By identifying child stars as both powerless and powerful because of their difference to 'normal' children this study exposes how dominant constructions serve to demonise certain experiences of childhood and validate others, as well as highlighting the important role the child star plays in symbolising hope, innocence and futurity in our society.

Fishing as an occupation provides more than a way of earning a living. Its traditions, structures and dynamics influence all aspects of the lives of individuals and households, and provide the basis for individual and collective identities. This research focuses on northeast Scotland, where communities have developed along this stretch of coast because of their relationship with the fishing industry. However, the industry is undergoing extensive restructuring, driven by fisheries management and policy responses to ecological problems in key stocks. This restructuring is bringing about major changes for the industry, and although the policies driving reform recognise there are socio-cultural implications, understandings of these impacts are underdeveloped. This research draws on theories of identity to conceptualise the socio-cultural foundations of the fishing industry. In-depth interviews with fishermen, former fishermen and their wives provide a rich source of data to explore the construction and performance of identity. This research demonstrates how three domains of fishing, the sea, household and community, are central spaces for fishing identity. In these spaces traditional symbols of fishing are used to create and maintain a shared understanding of the industry and collective identity. The changes brought about by the restructuring of the industry present challenges to these traditional constructions of identity and are undermining key symbols, such as maintaining a close-knit crew. The past is used as a resource to understand these present challenges, and in many cases positive fishing identities are being maintained. However there is a sense that fishing no longer occupies its central position within northeast Scotland; instead it has become a community within a community.

The researchi s to investigate the adolescence'sp eer discussion and its influences on adolescents' romantic relationships. Based on development theories, adolescences are changing their social network into peers and they start to have interests in the opposite sex. This study structured a hypothesis that there is a peer influence on Taiwanese adolescents' romantic relationship. Adolescence has been recognized as a developing stage in psychosexual, psychosocial, and cognitive areas. An experience of passionate love in romantic relationship can become the most crucial thing, and is also a lesson to search proper partner in future life. Friends' opinions about relationships and sexuality address influences on adolescents. This study applied both qualitative and quantitative research methods for data collection. First, focus groups with adolescents and semi-structured interviews with school counsellors and teachers are to provide qualitative data. Content analysis has been applied in data analysis to categorize the themes. Second, a questionnaire was applied by adopting the themes generated from the qualitative results. The results showed that there is a peer influences on Taiwanese adolescents' romantic relationships in dating activities, dating dress, couple-making, and advice giving. They also benefit from peers' experiences in romantic relationships. Furthermore, the finding on peer influences on adolescents was contradictory. Young people view others' behaviours as an influence of peers while stating their behaviours as being independent and non-influenced. Analyses about young people's opinions and school teachers' observation have been discussed with respects to literatures and theories. It has been argued that peer influences among adolescents are both negative and positive. Though adolescents are judged as being influenced by their peers, they insisted that they are independent while making decisions. Recommendations are made for educational authorities, school staff, and young people.

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