Speaking to the issue of spiritual development from her extensive experience as a youth work practitioner, the author notes several ideas she finds particularly compelling, among them that spiritual development interacts with, yet is distinct from, moral and religious development; that spiritual development is a core construct of identity…

Research on historical cognition has capitalized on developing the thought processes of expert historians in students. Biofunctional theory points to several limitations to this approach: (a) developing from novice to expert is probably not a direct process; (b) developing expertise requires more time than the historical thinking approach…

As Literacy Outreach Coordinator for Opportunity to Read (OTR), the Watsonville (CA) Public Library literacy program, this author has recognized the concept of responsibility through example. Adult learners incorporate concepts easily when these concepts are specifically demonstrated for them by someone similar to them. Sounds simple, but putting…

In our day-to-day striving, dissonance litters obstacles along the path of personal development and these obstacles cause pain and hinder growth. An environment that is relatively free from dissonance should foster personal development and enhance growth. The Dissonance Test-Revised (DISS-R), a test derived from second force psychology, was…

This article presents several letters in which a university mentor shares her reflexive notions of how she lives as a teacher researcher. In her letters, Julia encourages teachers to embrace what she calls "An Embodied Aesthetic Curriculum." When teachers are able to develop "embodied aesthetic wholeness", they are capable of deepening…

Mentoring programs for youth have become increasingly popular interventions and are generally effective in promoting proteges' wellbeing and functioning. Building on recent efforts to understand the interpersonal mechanisms underlying mentoring relationships, the authors apply central concepts from attachment, social support and social learning…

Following a discussion of activity theory as an approach to human development originally rooted in transformational change, we review the historical context and diverse conceptualizations of social conduct from the field of sociology. The discussion of social conduct is broken into theories of social action, theories of enactment, and contemporary…

In a recently published study, Sloutsky and Fisher [Sloutsky, V. M., & Fisher, A.V. (2004a). When development and learning decrease memory: Evidence against category-based induction in children. "Psychological Science", 15, 553-558; Sloutsky, V. M., & Fisher, A. V. (2004b). Induction and categorization in young children: A similarity-based model.…

This study examined the literacy identity development of fourth graders engaged in a writer's workshop, with literacy identity development referring to the ways students come to see themselves as readers and writers or the ways that others come to see them as readers and writers. The researcher collected data through observations during writing…

A teacher's prophecy of his students' futures is described. (DB)

The author describes methods she used to hide the fact that, because of a learning disability, she could not read. Through trial and error, the author learned the conditions and ways in which she was able to study and thus was able to largely overcome her disability. (PHR)

Presents previously unpublished paper written by Abraham Maslow, written in November 1966, in which Maslow confronts the issue why so few people are truly self-actualizing. Discusses the Jonah Complex, the willful evasion of personal capacity for growth and accomplishment in life. (Author/ABL)

Claims acquisition of values is related to successes and failures of early relationships. Describes steps person goes through in making identifications, explaining steps that move person toward construction of value system. Refers to works of Heinz Kohut to explain how child's idealizing has within it necessary components for child's growth in…

Asks whether striving to win in sports is compatible with belief participation in sports builds character. Identifies viewpoints on winning (winning as consequence and winning as experience). Suggests ways counselors might encourage athletes, coaches, and parents to perceive winning as experience so participation in sports can foster…

Provides a basic overview of the ideas behind general semantics, including a simple definition and underlying principles. Covers basic points, including map-territory relations, "non-allness," probability thinking, "nonelementalism," communication as shared understanding, "time binding,""here and now…