These essays provide richer set of writings on the philosophical, empirical and practical issues raised by a focus on character, and in particular its relationship to questions of opportunity. Each one is an intellectual pemmican: sharp and to the point. Two scholars draw attention to the gendered nature of character formation (Segal and Lexmond);…

Compared the effect of a growth experience, systematic skills training, and a combination of the two on personality change in counselor trainees (N=89), measured by the Personal Orientation Index. Both the growth group and skills training experience had positive effects on personality but no significant correlation with counseling effectiveness.…

Presents research findings on the relationship of academic skill level, ethnic membership, and foreign birth to two personality traits, autonomy and theoretical orientation, in a sample of college undergraduates. Concludes that while sex, foreign birth, and ethnicity were not related to either trait, the experience of attending college has a…

The concept of "learning disposition" provides a useful way of examining longer-term outcomes of quality early childhood programs and outlines characteristics of a learning orientation or disposition in early childhood. The learning disposition involves the tendency to want to do something, sensitivity to being alert to the appropriate…