The effects of the youth counselling program on the growth toward self-actualization.

Abstract

The primary aim of the study was to investigate the effect upon growth toward self-actualization; and to explore changes in cross-cultural attitudes for Guidance pre service teachers who were participants in a Youth Counselling program. It was hypothesised that participants would grow significantly toward self-actualization. The data were collected through pre- and posttest administration of Shostrom's Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) and through a researcher-designed questionnaire, the Attitude Inventory. The control group consisted of English Methodology students, The results indicated that participation in the Youth Counselling program was not effective in increasing self-actualizing attitudes. Significant change in the Youth Counsellor's perceptions of her/his ability to form interpersonal relationships with individuals from racial groups different from her/his own was also not confirmed. Nevertheless, as, a by-product of the study. certain Interesting findings were noted, namely South African preservice teachers (of Guidance and English Methodology) centre excessively on the past or the future relative to the present and tend to misuse time. Further, they are bound by social pressures and social expectations, and are unclear as to whether to conform or to act autonomously, Empirical observation demonstrated the Youth Counselling program was the first time that many of the Youth Counsellors had entered into a relationship with an individual of another race, Recommendations for further research include a Youth Counselling program which is voluntary and not mandatory, of a greater length than five months, more closely monitored and less ambiguous. It was suggested that a more reliable method of measuring self-actualisation, which is more appropriate to South African conditions should be developed. It was also suggested that further use of the Attitude Inventory is postponed until validity and control studies have occurred.