Statistical and legal analysis of California nursing home admission agreements indicated that agreements limited autonomy of nursing home residents in important ways, including constraints on resident's right to make health care decisions and other basic personal choices, entitlement to due process or grievance procedures, and right to informed…

Data were collected from 117 college students to examine the validity of the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale. Two assumptions were generated from the results: (1) most items on the scale are correlated with the subject's total score and (2) most items are not correlated with the subject's age. (CH)

Using four national surveys conducted in 1977, 1978, 1982, and 1983, this study examined public opinions on suicide in four situations: incurable disease, bankruptcy, family dishonor, and being tired of living. It was found that respondents with attributes of higher education, lower religiosity, and higher commitment to freedom of expression were…

Lists seven issues in suicide prevention, gives Thomas Szasz's libertarian perspective on those issues, and argues against Szasz's perspective. (ABB)

This article focuses on Positive and Effective Multicultural Interaction (PEMI). To achieve PEMI, games and activities must support opportunities for inclusion of people who differ from one another. Four low organized games which encourage bonding and autonomy are described. (MT)

Forty sixth and seventh graders (learning disabled and non LD) completed the Autonomy Multiple Choice measure and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Significant differences between groups were found: LD Ss demonstrated lower levels of autonomy in situations where the source of stress was situational (trauma) or personal (parents or peers).…

The authors examine the meaning of independence for persons with a disability, note two prerequisites (access to the same opportunities of life and capacity to participate in those activities), and explore strategies to help disabled persons learn to choose how to live their lives (including personal life planning, problem solving instruction, and…

Considers conceptual and theoretical issues involved in an action-oriented developmental perspective, arguing that actions are interpretation constructs. Multiple roots of active theory in psychology are summarized, and some ways that an action orientation might contribute to psychological thinking about aging and developments are discussed.(RH)

Presents a model of extramarital sexual permissiveness, focusing on several aspects of the marital dyad and dyadic independence. While autonomy of heterosexual interaction, the comparison level of alternatives, and marital satisfaction each play some role in accounting for permissive attitudes, the strongest predictor is the diffuseness of…

Analyzes the male response to anticipated loss of power as women continue to demand equality and equal power. Describes the scope of male power, and analyzes the importance of power to men in terms of the male sex-role stereotype. Hypothesizes some likely male responses to a loss of power. (BH)

Examined the influence of spouses' affiliation and independence motivation in 25 distressed and 25 nondistressed couples. Results showed the affiliation independence model's hypotheses linking spouses affiliation and independence motivation to specific areas of marital discord received general support for both distressed and nondistressed couples.…

The purpose of this discussion is to explore the idea that children, like adults, have certain rights that include the basic right to be entertained. A hypothesis was developed supporting the idea that there exists affective value for a child if he or she has the opportunity to occasionally sit and watch media which contains no particular…

How does individual learning impact team learning? Through an exploratory case study, data was collected from questionnaires, documentation review, observations, and interviews. Three themes emerged describing how an autonomous learner affected team learning. The results indicated that the autonomous learner influenced team learning through…

Examines the social philosophy of John Stuart Mill, emphasizing his views on freedom, education, and social reform. Considers Mill's individualism and reformism, the conflict between freedom and control that characterizes his work, and the importance of freedom and education. Suggests caution in drawing educational implications from his work. (DAB)

Analyzes and considers two problems in Bertrand Russell's account of growth. Examines the principles of freedom and reverence which Russell believed best enhanced free growth. Shows that, while Russell's theory of growth is imprecise compared to those of Dewey and Whitehead, it incorporates a humanistic conception of the individual. (DAB)