The possible selves construct is presented as a useful and largely untapped perspective on adult learning. Special attention is given to the role of educational helping relationships in fostering positive possible selves among adult learners.

This recently completed study examined whether attribution theory can explain helping behavior in an interdependent classroom environment that utilized a cooperative-learning model. The study focused on student participants enrolled in 6 community college communication classes taught by the same instructor. Three levels of cooperative-learning…

This booklet includes presentations, discussions, and photographs of a meeting in December 1997 of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) and the Black Community Crusade for Children (BCCC) at the former Alex Haley farm. The meeting involved intergenerational conversations about the effects of race, poverty, and family and community disintegration on…

The nature of the processes involved in the phenomena of psychological change and self-development as related to the concept of self-help and mutual aid are examined in this paper. Awareness, motivation, and self-actualization are seen as part of a fundamental process of growth and development. It is suggested that a parallel to the personal…

This guide may be used as a text for peer helper, lay leadership, or volunteer worker training programs. The first chapter describes the facilitative model as it applies to peer helping, and presents an overview of the guide. The second chapter examines the nature of people. Eight basic principles of human behavior are outlined. The third chapter…

This paper is based on a retreat in which vocational rehabilitation professionals examined their own developmental experiences in community settings and related them to their professional role. Vocational rehabilitation professionals are required to act as leaders as they facilitate the process by which people who have experienced traumatic loss…

This case study is based on a 1988 site visit to the Orion Community, in which a group of nondisabled and disabled people have chosen to live and work with each other in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Orion's founding is described, beginning with an informal support group of professionals, parents, advocates, and members of Camphill (agricultural…

This paper reviews recent literature related to co-worker involvement in non-sheltered community-based employment programs for persons with mental retardation. Discussion of co-worker roles is categorized into six areas: training, associating, befriending, advocating, evaluating, and information giving. Also discussed are other variables…

This annotated bibliography provides a comprehensive review of literature focusing on brothers and sisters of children with emotional disorders. Some material addressing brothers and sisters of children who have physical, mental, or developmental disabilities is also included. The bibliography lists approximately 80 references covering a 10-year…

Data suggest that family members, especially mothers, are primary sources of help for elementary school children who want to discuss problems. This is more true with younger children than with older ones. Moreover, children consider warmth, trust and understanding as the main characteristics of helping persons. (Author/SE)

The author outlines a cognitive approach for explaining how and why people use values as defenses. He examines the relationship between defensive values and irrational beliefs, suggests a number of criteria for diagnosing the presence of defensive values, and proposes some strategies for dealing with defensive values in counseling. (Author)

Student services must be directed toward the overall needs of education. They must decline to be an isolated segment of the institution rendering services ancillary to the "academic" mission of the college and move toward collegewide involvement and commitment to fostering the personal-psychological growth and development of all people. (Author)

Over-simplified classification of students destroys the people-to-people relationship built on response to real and individual needs which is the purported goal of student services. Policy dilemmas of the community college are tied to the problem of relating traditional higher education to the needs of all the students. (MJK)

Paraprofessionals don't arrive on the job equipped with all the knowledge and skills needed for effective service. Danish and Brock discuss four systematic methods that have proven successful in the training of paraprofessionals, and give readers some guidelines for choosing methods that are most appropriate for their own programs. (Author)

The rehabilitation counselor needs to have an understanding of the basic nature of man and the theories of personality and human behavior (specifically with regard to stress and disability) in order to consider a personal and functional scheme or strategy for helping. (Author/EA)