Effects of Teacher-Led, Curriculum-Integrated Sensitivity Training in a Large High School 1

Abstract

AbstractIn an attempt to develop a widely applicable, practical means of reducing students' alienation from school, family and community by increasing self-ideal congruence, encounter groups were offered as elective courses to 10th grade students. The groups were led by teachers and professional trainers in the first year and by teachers alone in the second. Small and standard size classes comprised the control groups. Personal adjustment and social attitudes were measured by the California Test of Personality, self-ideal congruence by Miskimins Self-Goal-Other Test. Ratings of change were also obtained from parents. Results suggest limited positive effects of the encounter groups and some negative effects of small classes. Many positive changes noted in the school, possibly related indirectly to the experimental intervention, indicate a greater impact on other parts of the school environment than on the immediate consumers of