A study collected data on the quality of life and self-determination of 50 individuals with mental retardation to examine the contribution of self-determination to quality of life and the relationship between these constructs. Participants who reported a higher quality of life were also identified as more self-determined. (Author/CR)

Suggests the film "The Piano" reflects themes addressed in the fairy tales "The Little Mermaid,""Bluebeard," and "The Handless Maiden." Demonstrates how the film can be used with clients to address archetypal motifs of silence, betrayal, and the search for a voice. Discusses the film's symbolism using a…

Analysis of cohorts of German young adults indicated that the dual vocational training system that supports socialization and transition is eroding. and self-socialization and personal agency are increasingly important. However, for some occupations the dual system still provides skills and attitudes to cope with self-imposed and forced career…

Those who make memorials for the victims of motor vehicle crashes assume an authority to do so that stems from three main elements of experience: the overwhelming empowerment of grief; the belief that the presence of the deceased can be felt and recognized; and the understanding that the place where life was lost is a special place for…

Playing the role of constructive critic of articles in this special issue, I adopt the term self-reliance to refer to work habits, work styles, volition, and self-regulated learning. Starting with the belief that developing self-reliance is an important goal of education, I examine key issues that influence the likelihood of reaching this goal. I…

Securing meaningful involvement in service development and provision can be seen as a particular challenge for people with learning difficulties. The National Health Service & Community Care Act [(1990) HMSO, ISBN 0105419907] and more recently Valuing People [Department of Health (2001) "Valuing people: a new strategy for learning…

The 12 steps of the well-known mutual help group, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), begin with Step One, admitting powerlessness. Although Step One has helped many problem drinkers and other addicts, its spiritual concepts have been criticized. The possibility of reconceptualizing powerlessness as empowering, not only within AA and its offshoot programs,…

This paper discusses the historical relationship between people with disabilities and the rest of society. It describes the period from World War I through World War II as one of humanitarianism during which the development of a limited number of adaptive devices helped people with disabilities adjust to their disabilities as much as possible. The…

The power of beauty has been contemplated by writers, poets, and philosophers for centuries. The link between the target physical attractiveness and perceived social influence effectiveness has not been directly and systematically investigated. The goal of this study was to assess whether physically attractive (versus unattractive) individuals are…

In his autobiography, Malcolm X wrote that he did not become fully literate until he went to prison in the 1940s. Literacy profoundly changed Malcolm's life--his progression from street talker, to spokesman for the Nation of Islam, to independent spokesman for human rights, is related to changes in his consciousness brought on by literacy. When he…

"The Road from Coorain" is the autobiographical story of Jill Ker Conway, the first woman president of Smith College. The story traces Conway's journey from powerlessness to power. Born in the outback of Australia, where all people were powerless in the face of the vacillations of nature, forced off the land into a city life to which she…

The 3 benefits which the Siletz Indians would receive from the passage of the Siletz Restoration Bill are discussed: 1) Federal benefits, 2) tribal land base, and 3) tribal identity. (NQ)

Males and females from community and university samples were assigned to two self-management treatments, nonspecific, or no-treatment controls. At six month follow-up, differences were not significant. Results are discussed in terms of conceptualizations of self-management and the utility of treatments employed. (Author)

The purpose of this study was to identify conflict resolution strategies used by siblings when they chose television programs to watch and to examine differences in strategies associated with sex of child, the age interval between siblings, and their ordinal position. Children, 116 pairs of siblings in first through sixth grade, were interviewed…