Student Volunteer Movement and the Manpower Shortage

The nonprofessional as a psychotherapeutic agent

“…The ability of nonprofessionals to change the behavior of adult inpatients has been reported in 12 of the 13 studies that were reviewed (Anker & Walsh, 1961;Appelby, 1963;Beck, Kantor, & Gelineau, 1963;Bucktey, Muench, & Sjoberg, 1970;Carkhuff & Truax, 1965, Gelineau & Evans, 1970Greenblatt & Kantor, 1962;Hartlage, 1970;Holzberg, Knapp, & Turner, 1967;Poser, 1966;Rappaport, Chinsky, & Cowen, 1971;Sines, Silver, & Lucero, 1961;Verinis, 1970). Eight of these studies employed a control group.…”

“…If the results of the controlled studies are examined together, it is evident that nonprofessionals have been able to alter many indices of psychological dysfunction in adult inpatients, such as: overt behavior (Appelby, 1963;Carkhuff & Truax, 1965;Verinis, 1970); the results of psychological tests (Buckley, Muench, & Sjoberg, 1970;Holzberg, Knapp, & Turner, 1967;Rappaport, Chinsky, & Cowen, 1971); perceptual and motor coordination tasks (Poser, 1966;Rappaport, Chinsky, & Cowen, 1971); and discharge rate (Carkhuff & Truax, 1965). Although five studies (Anker & Walsh, 1961;Beck, Kantor, & Gelineau, 1963;Gelineau & Evans, 1970;Greenblatt &Kantor, 1962;Hartlage, 1970) did not employ a no-treatment control group, they produced additional evidence of the nonprofessional's ability to change the behavior of adult inpatients. These studies found that nonprofessionals were able to change the overt behavior of adult inpatients (Hartlage, 1970;Anker & Walsh, 1961) and the self-concept of the patients (Hartlage, 1970), as well as to increase their discharge rate (Beck, Kantor & Gelineau, 1963;Gelineau & Evans, 1970;Greenblatt & Kantor, 1962).…”

“…Although five studies (Anker & Walsh, 1961;Beck, Kantor, & Gelineau, 1963;Gelineau & Evans, 1970;Greenblatt &Kantor, 1962;Hartlage, 1970) did not employ a no-treatment control group, they produced additional evidence of the nonprofessional's ability to change the behavior of adult inpatients. These studies found that nonprofessionals were able to change the overt behavior of adult inpatients (Hartlage, 1970;Anker & Walsh, 1961) and the self-concept of the patients (Hartlage, 1970), as well as to increase their discharge rate (Beck, Kantor & Gelineau, 1963;Gelineau & Evans, 1970;Greenblatt & Kantor, 1962). It is evident, from both controlled and uncontrolled studies, that nonprofessionals are able to significantly change the behavior of adult inpatients.…”

“…Since this study did not employ a no-treatment control group, it is impossible to determine whether either group was more effective than not providing treatment. It appears that treatment that is provided as frequently as once a week (Beck, Kantor & Gelineau, 1963;Buckley, Muench, & Sjoberg, 1970;Gelineau, & Evans, 1970;Greenblatt,& Kantor, 1962;Holzberg, Knapp, & Turner, 1967;Verinis, 1970) induced significant changes in disturbed populations. Treatment that is provided less frequently seems to be effective in academic counseling (Brown, 1965;Zunker & Brown, 1966).…”

Effectiveness of college students in an incentive community program for chronic hospitalized patients

“…Gruver's (1971) review of the research on companion programs suggests that students benefit considerably from these programs. Some of the reported changes in students consist of facilitation of identity formation with respect to career goals in mental health (Greenblatt & Kantor, 1961;Kantor, 1962); positive changes in self-acceptance and in moral judgments concerning sexual and aggressive behaviors (Holtzberg, Gerwitz, & Ebner, 1964); and less frequently being on academic probation, and showing greater introspection (Holtzberg & Knapp, 1965).…”