The Effect on Self-Actualization of a Personal Growth Programme Based on Co-Counselling

Abstract

Nine male and thirteen female psychology students who participated in a personal growth training programme based on co-counselling, and a matched control group, completed Shostrom's Personal Orientation Inventory both before and after the programme. The inventory was also completed six months later by eleven of the original sample. There was a general tendency in both groups for self-actualization to increase. At the post-test, on the scales Inner Directedness, Time Competence, Self Actualizing Values and Self Regard, the co-counselling group showed a greater increase than the Controls. At six months follow-up, the pattern of means suggested that gains were maintained, however the six months sample was too small in size for differences between experimental and control groups to reach statistical significance.