"Conation" is action derived from instinct, purposeful mode of striving, volition. It is a conscious effort to carry out self-determined acts and, as such, may result in the same goal being approached by different individuals through the use of different actions. It is a critical, yet neglected aspect of the "tripartite" human mind, which is…

Describes author's experiences after his own diagnoses of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Related Complex (ARC) and AIDS itself. Discusses six ways for social workers to provide empowerment to persons with AIDS, which focus on the positive, the healing power of caring, reconnections, direction, victim mindset, and advocacy. (ABL)

Business students (N=25) and social work students (N=34) participated in a study measuring their perceptions of their use of power. No correlation emerged between age and perception of power. Social work students concentrating in interpersonal intervention seemed to account for much of the differences found. Social work students concentrating in…

The effects of supervision on the social workers's autonomy and productivity are analyzed in this article. Suggestions are made for more effective professional operation even within the often unavoidable bureaucratic structure. (Author)

Describes effects of leukemia diagnosis and treatment for preadolescents and adolescents. Discusses strategies for social workers to assist these cancer patients in participating actively in the day-to-day management of their own care. (ABL)

Notes growth in number of self-help groups/agencies for mental health clients. Examines self-help perspective in relation to problems with traditional mental health services and need for client-run services. Goal of article is not to endorse self-help perspective but to use it as basis for raising research questions that will further mental health…

Provides set of research strategies that would help bridge gap between research concerning care and treatment of people with severe mental illness and consumer empowerment. Argues that research should attend to context of research, vantage point, process of formulating research questions, selection of interventions tested, selection of outcomes…

Two concepts--"Smother Love" and "Tough Love"--were used successfully in a training program for senior citizens preparing to become companions to hospital patients. This dependent versus interdependent framework enables the helpers to establish constructive relationships with patients. (SJL)

Results of a statistical analysis of a study of battered wives in shelters indicated that the wives' economic dependence on their husbands almost always ensured that they would return to their husbands and that respondents who considered the shelters useful had a higher probability of returning to their husbands. (Author)

Has the effectiveness of evaluation in interventive work been overlooked? The Practice Outcome Inventory is a treatment technique that involves the client directly in the evaluation process--with benefit to both client and practitioner. (Author)

Focuses on the ethical dilemmas surrounding informed consent in court-mandated practice. Examines the principles of informed consent, being informed about legal requirements, coercion and consent, the power that social workers have over clients, and the therapeutic alliance. Discusses the implications of informed consent for social work practice.…

Examines the organizational binds facing social workers concerned with the provision of services to clients in times of fiscal restraint. Suggests a mutual support group as a step toward empowerment. Workers may shift from a support group to a coalition for action as change agents within institutional settings. (JAC)

Examines whether elderly individuals issuing advance directives for health care were more likely to have their wishes understood by designated surrogates than elderly folks who had not given such a directive. The mere completion of a directive did not guarantee the decision maker's awareness of the older person's wishes. (RJM)

A significant correlation has been found between life satisfaction in the later years of life and the accomplishment of developmental tasks, which is taken as indicative of a person's continued growth. This study explored another variable of the same theme: the relationship of the exercise of responsibility to life satisfaction. (Author)

This article describes the attempt to develop an explicit technique for group problem-solving which can be tested in real situations presented by clients. Older adults were used as subjects for the six-session workshop. Satisfactory results were reported. (Author/BP)