Meeting the Psychological Needs of Gifted Black Students: A Cultural Perspective

In the literature, one finds rich analyses of the psychological, emotional, and social needs of gifted people. The data on the specific psychological needs of gifted minority children, however, are lacking; one finds even less information on their cultural needs. This article examines the psychological and social difficulties confronting gifted Black students. Racial identity development theory is described briefly, including the significance of culture on achievement and psychological well-being. Finally, recommendations are made for counselors who wish to work effectively with gifted Black students.     

A Structural Approach to the Single-Parent Family

Although the single-parent family is becoming a predominant family structure, there is a surprising scarcity of articles discussing its typical problems or detailing specific therapeutic approaches. This paper attempts, first, to list some core problems encountered by all single parents and, second, to present a sequence of therapeutic approaches geared toward dealing with these problems.
Structural theory, with its emphasis on subsystems, generational boundaries, and organizational patterns, provides a framework for viewing the built-in vulnerabilities of the single-parent family unit. Minuchin's ( 3 ) emphasis on generational boundaries and the problem of enmeshment underlies the theoretical and therapeutic approach presented here. I have drawn heavily on Haley's ( 2 ) idea that the therapist must be an authority, a problem-solver, and a teacher. Finally, the emphasis on creating new organizational patterns is most thoroughly explored in Aponte's ( 1 ) discussions of "underorganized families" (many of whom are single-parent families).     

Life Satisfaction of Nearly Retired and Retired Workers

This study of retired workers and those nearing retirement in a university setting revealed similarities in perceived life satisfaction but found significant differences among employment categories.     

"EVERYMAN'S ONTOLOGICAL ARGUMENT": A DISSIDENT VERSION

We must agree, I think, with Frank Ebersole that there is something preposterous in supposing that the God of religious belief, the God who handed down tablets to Moses on Mt. Sinai, etc., should be proven to exist by the ontological argument. Indeed, when we place the one, the ontological argument, by the side of the other, the God of religious belief, there seems hardly to be any connection between them. But if we agree to this perception of things, what sense can we make of the ontological argument, for example, the “pull” that it sometimes exerts on us?     

Counseling Directory and Consumer's Guide: Implementing Professional Disclosure and Consumer Protection

The publication of a “counseling directory” and “consumer's guide” is a new approach that can be used to respond to the current professional issues of professional disclosure and consumer protection. In a recent project in Benton County, Oregon, a directory and guide were published and distributed. This article reviews and evaluates that project. The purposes, format, and content of both the directory and guide are summarized. It is hoped that this article will stimulate interest in this approach and that the information provided will be used for similar projects in other communities.     

THE RELATIONSHIP OF PERSONALITY VARIABLES TO ORGANIZATIONAL WITHDRAWAL

The relationship of personality variables to turnover and absenteeism was investigated using Cattell's 16 PF. Results indicated Factors G (conscientiousness) and Q₄ (anxiety) accounted for most of the predictable variance in both indices or organizational withdrawal. The Porter and Steers "polar" hypotheses for organizational withdrawal were not confirmed except for the anxiety factor. Results are discussed in terms of Lyons'(1972) conclusions on the relationship of absenteeism and turnover and the generality of findings to other samples of employees.