Jack M. Chinsky - Böcker

Large Group Awareness Training: An Historical Context Groups associated with the human potential movement have been a controversial feature of American life during the last three decades. In the 1950's and 1960's, the movement was dominated by various types of small groups (SGs), which included sensitivity training groups, encounter groups, as well as several others (see Lieberman, Yalom, & Miles, 1973). Some people viewed SGs as an effective means for attaining personal and organizational growth, and Carl Rogers, one of the founders of this movement, labeled small groups as . . the most rapidly spreading social invention of the century, and probably the most potent" (Rogers, 1970). In contrast, others attacked SGs as "the most extreme exhibition thus far of man's talent for reducing, distorting, evading, and vulgarizing his own reality" (Koch, 1973, p. 639). Nevertheless, SGs generally became an accepted tool for personal development and were incorporated into university curricula and mana­ gerial training programs. During the 1970's the prevalence and appeal of SGs declined (cf. Back, 1978), and at about the same time, large group awareness training programs (LGATs) appeared. ' LGATs are offered to the general public by profit-making or­ ganizations and examine philosophical, psychological and ethical issues concern­ ing personal effectiveness, decision-making, personal responsibility and commit­ ment After addressing these topics, participants are encouraged to apply their recently attained insights to their lives.

Originally published in 1976, this volume begins with a theoretical overview of the major trends in the community psychology movement at the time, as well as a perspective on how the field was developing. The emphasis is on the utility of combining a preventative community-centered orientation with an applied behavioral-analytic focus. The authors take general theoretical notions and demonstrate how they can be turned to concrete methods of dealing with specific practical problems that occur in implementing a ‘real-life’ program of community oriented intervention. The authors present an innovative model for developing a low cost and effective delivery system for mental health services in public schools. They describe the actual development and implementation of such a system in the school, and also include a comprehensive evaluative scheme for determining the efficacy of this type of endeavor. The actual behavior change strategies that are employed can be used effectively by teaching personnel or psychologists on either a large or small scale. A final unique feature of the volume is the inclusion of a program that will assist teachers and mental health professionals in helping elementary school students learn social problem-solving skills.

Originally published in 1976, this volume begins with a theoretical overview of the major trends in the community psychology movement at the time, as well as a perspective on how the field was developing. The emphasis is on the utility of combining a preventative community-centered orientation with an applied behavioral-analytic focus. The authors take general theoretical notions and demonstrate how they can be turned to concrete methods of dealing with specific practical problems that occur in implementing a ‘real-life’ program of community oriented intervention. The authors present an innovative model for developing a low cost and effective delivery system for mental health services in public schools. They describe the actual development and implementation of such a system in the school, and also include a comprehensive evaluative scheme for determining the efficacy of this type of endeavor. The actual behavior change strategies that are employed can be used effectively by teaching personnel or psychologists on either a large or small scale. A final unique feature of the volume is the inclusion of a program that will assist teachers and mental health professionals in helping elementary school students learn social problem-solving skills.