Personality characteristics of sensitivity group volunteers

Thirty-nine undergraduates who volunteered for sensitivity groups and 62 who did not were compared on 11 scales of the California Psychological Inventory. As predicted, sensitivity group members scored significantly lower on 8 of 11 scales. Differences on the other three scales were in the predicted direction but insignificant. The authors suggested that students are motivated to seek sensitivity groups because of self-perceived problems in the same way that students are who seek counseling. The assumption that the well-functioning individual joins sensitivity groups was challenged.     

Family Systems: Morphostasis and Morphogenesis,or “Is Homeostasis Enough?”

The role of family homeostasis in Conjoint Family Therapy is reviewed and examined from the standpoint of the Sociocultural Systems framework as presented by Buckley. Sociocultural Systems concepts are presented, and an attempt is made to relate them to a view of the family. It is concluded that the concept of homeostasis by itself is insufficient as a basic explanatory principle for family systems and that it may limit both our expectations for families and our approaches to helping families. The concepts viability, positive feedback processes, morphogenesis, and "variety" are presented and emphasized as important for a more tenable conceptualization of the family system in our society today. An attempt is made to relate these concepts to some of the clinical family literature and to examine the implications of these concepts for mental health and educational approaches to the family.     

The Easy Rider Syndrome: A Pattern of Hetero- and Homosexual Relationships in a Heroin Addict Population

A pattern of dyadic relationship in the addict subculture is described in terms of its familial antecedents, current dynamics, and treatment implications. The chief feature of this pattern is that the male member of the dyad is an "Easy Rider," supported and cared for by the female partner.     

Attitudes Toward Counselors and Counseling Processes: A Comparison of Chinese and American Graduate Students

Graduate students socialized in separate cultural settings, Taiwan and the United States, but studying at the same large university were surveyed about their (a) preferences for counselor's characteristics, (b) images of a counselor, and (c) attitudes toward counseling and counseling services. Results show that Chinese and American students have different preferences for and images of a counselor. Although both groups have positive attitudes toward seeking counseling, they know very little about the counseling resources and locations available. The groups also differ in their expectations of the counseling process. Some sex differences were indicated, but no clear pattern emerged.     

A Comparison of the Social Interactions of Workers with and without Disabilities

In this study, the authors investigate the social interactions of workers with and without disabilities. Results are discussed in terms of valued social skills and curriculum implications.     

The Potential Contribution of the Behavioral Scientist to World Peace

In this brief statement, Carl Rogers, with assistance from David Malcolm, presents his view of the state of the world today. His hope is to disengage the world from a precarious entanglement that threatens human survival. He seeks alternatives that would reduce psychological barriers that impinge on rational communication.     

Marriage and Family Counseling in Counselor Education: National Trends and Implications

The authors report the results of a survey of 274 counselor education chairpersons asked to respond to a series of questions concerning the current status of marriage and family counseling in counselor education. Respondents indicated that marriage and family programs in counselor education are continuing to grow in popularity, identified courses most frequently employed in the training of such counselors, provided information about support that AACD could give to enhance the development of marriage and family counseling, and gave their opinions about how marriage and family counseling programs should be accredited.     

Child Development and Counseling

Elkind outlines three constructs, the assumptive reality of childhood and the imaginary audience and personal fable of adolescence, which help explain normal as well as problem behavior. In dealing with individuals operating under the premises of these constructs, counselors are asked to accept the young person's view of reality as valid for him or her, but not necessarily for the counselor or others. To structure a new reality, they should not be shown they are wrong, but helped to distinguish between personal and social reality.     

The center/satellite model: grand strategy for change

Whatever happened to the federal monies that used to support NDEA and EPDA counseling and guidance institute programs? Starting in 1971, an abrupt change in USOE policy led to the development of a new program, one that was no longer as much of a counseling and guidance program as it was a national and regional grand strategy for institutional and organizational change. In this article the author traces the new program from its origins during the days of the NDEA Institutes, and he also describes its potential as an instrument for change.     

Needed: professional ethics for working with groups

The present apga Ethical Standards statement is deficient in several respects regarding group work. It leaves judgment and responsibility entirely in the practitioner's hands. This article discusses the issues that arise from the properties and dynamics of groups themselves and ethical concerns that occur in the formation of groups in personnel and guidance work. It also offers suggestions for interpreting and extending the Ethical Standards in working with groups and examines the need for apga to seize leadership in developing appropriate new standards.