NCJ Number
56530
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF COUNSELORS AS CHANGE AGENTS IS ASSESSED, AND THEIR FUNCTIONS IN EFFECTING SELF-ACTUALIZATION AND IN IMPROVING SELF-CONCEPT IN THE FIELD OF CORRECTIONS ARE NOTED.
Abstract
MUCH OF WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT BEHAVIOR AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE HAS COME FROM SOCIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY. TWO BROAD POINTS OF VIEW ARE THE SCIENTIFIC OR EXTERNAL REFERENCE METHOD IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE OBSERVED FROM AN OUTSIDER'S POINT OF VIEW AND THE EXISTENTIALISTIC OF HUMANIST MOVEMENT WHICH EMPHASIZES THE NATURE OF MAN, FEELINGS, BELIEFS, DESIRES, AND VALUES. THE LATTER METHOD IS MOST RELEVANT TO THE WORK OF TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND COUNSELORS. AS AN IMPORTANT REALM OF COUNSELORS, SELF-CONCEPT REPRESENTS AN ORGANIZATION OF BELIEFS ABOUT ONESELF. BECAUSE SELF-CONCEPT IS LEARNED, IT CAN BE CHANGED. THIS FACT PROVIDES THE PREMISE UPON WHICH COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS DEPENDS. THE PURPOSE OF COUNSELORS IS TO ASSIST OFFENDERS IN EXPLORING MORE POSITIVE AND EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND OTHERS. SINCE GROWING NEVER STOPS, KNOWLEDGE OF ONESELF AND OF OTHERS NEVER BECOMES COMPLETE. AS CLIENTS BEGIN TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION OF PERSONAL GROWTH, THEY TEND TO MOVE AWAY FROM FACADES AND TO BECOME REAL AND GENUINE. WITH CLIENTS CLEARLY MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEMSELVES THROUGH SELF-ACTUALIZATION, THEY BECOME MORE RESPONSIBLE AND DISCOVER THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF MAKING POSITIVE AND REALISTIC DECISIONS. TO BE HELPFUL, COUNSELORS SHOULD ACTIVELY INVOLVE THEIR CLIENTS IN A PROGRAM THAT WILL ALLOW CLIENTS TO TALK ABOUT AND EXPLORE REASONS FOR THEIR BEHAVIOR, ALLOW THEM TO SET GOALS FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE, ALLOW THEM TO TRY OUT AND PRACTICE NEW WAYS OF BEHAVING, AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO THEM ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NEW BEHAVIORS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (DEP)