The Curriculum Research Institute papers presented here draw upon the behavioral disciplines of psychology, psychiatry, and sociology to examine some aspects of factors affecting the nurturing of individual potential. Although content, scope, and sequence of learning opportunities are central in individual development, other significant influences which have not yet been adequately explored by curriculum examiners are covered here. Some of these areas of exploration include creative or divergent thinking abilities; the processes of teaching and the effects of teaching styles on the nature of student achievement; and the impact of the school and community social milieu on learning. The articles presented point to a more meaningful construct of the teaching-learning process and the educators can begin to understand the ways school programs ignore individual abilities, that groups of children are confronted with learning tasks which seem inappropriate for them, and that cultural and subcultural forces significantly influence pupil achievements. (Author/SES)