Changes in moral judgment and self-acceptance in college students as a function of companionship with hospitalized mental patients.

Abstract

The present investigation describes studies undertaken to determine the effects of association with hospitalized mental patients on the personalities of 32 male college students who were compared to a control group of 24 comparable students who had not been involved in this experience with mental patients. The former demonstrate significant positive change in self-acceptance and in moral judgments concerning sexual and aggressive behaviors. The nature of the companionship experience is examined in order to elucidate the reasons for these changes. The implications of students' associations with mentally ill patients in the type of program described in this paper are considered in terms of their impact on students who will be the future leaders of American society.

Aids volunteers and their motivations: Theoretical issues and practical concerns

“…In fact, we have obtained preliminary evidence that people are changed by their experiences as AIDS volunteers (see also Holzberg, Gewirtz, and Ebner, 1964;King, Walder, and Pavey, 1970;Scheibe, 1965). Respondents in our national survey reported on how they perceived their attitudes had changed as a consequence of volunteering and how volunteering had affected their lives.…”

Personality Characteristics of Community Mental Health Volunteers: a Review

“…In at least nine studies, personality measures were administered either at the request of staff persons associated with the volunteer agency (Beckman, 1972;Smith and Nelson, 1975) or by presumably independent researchers who carried out their studies within the volunteer agency setting (Cowen, Zax, and Laird, 1966;Pretz, 1979;Hersch, Kulik, and Scheibe, 1969;Holzberg, Gewirtz, and Ebner, 1964;Jamison and Johnson, 1975;Sakowitz and Hirschman, 1975;Tapp and Spanier, 1973). In at least nine studies, personality measures were administered either at the request of staff persons associated with the volunteer agency (Beckman, 1972;Smith and Nelson, 1975) or by presumably independent researchers who carried out their studies within the volunteer agency setting (Cowen, Zax, and Laird, 1966;Pretz, 1979;Hersch, Kulik, and Scheibe, 1969;Holzberg, Gewirtz, and Ebner, 1964;Jamison and Johnson, 1975;Sakowitz and Hirschman, 1975;Tapp and Spanier, 1973).…”

V for Volunteer(ing)—The Journeys of Undergraduate Volunteers

“…There have been several studies on college volunteers that typically focus on their personality traits (Chinsky 1969;Carkhuff and Truax 1966;Cowen et al 1966;Holzberg et al 1964;Gelineau and Kantor 1969;as cited in Hobfoll 1980). Trudeau and Devlin (1996) examined volunteer students in comparison with non-volunteer students, where they found significant results for their hypotheses for female volunteers, and also found that on the whole, students were more motivated by altruistic reasons.…”