I Never Knew I Had A Choice: Explorations in Personal Growth

Front Cover......Page 1
Title Page......Page 4
Copyright......Page 5
Brief Contents......Page 10
Contents......Page 12
Preface......Page 17
CHAPTER 1 Invitation to Personal Learning and Growth......Page 23
Where Am I Now?......Page 24
Choice and Change......Page 25
Models for Personal Growth......Page 29
Are You an Active Learner?......Page 47
Multiple Intelligences and Multiple Learning Styles......Page 49
Getting the Most From This Book: Suggestions for Personal Learning......Page 53
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 55
Website Resources......Page 57
CHAPTER 2 Reviewing Your Childhood and Adolescence......Page 59
Where Am I Now?......Page 60
Stages of Personality Development: A Preview......Page 61
Infancy......Page 64
Early Childhood......Page 70
Impact of the First Six Years of Life......Page 72
Middle Childhood......Page 76
Pubescence......Page 81
Adolescence......Page 82
Summary......Page 87
Website Resources......Page 88
CHAPTER 3 Adulthood and Autonomy......Page 89
Where Am I Now?......Page 90
The Path Toward Autonomy and Interdependence......Page 91
Stages of Adulthood......Page 105
Early Adulthood......Page 107
Middle Adulthood......Page 112
Late Middle Age......Page 116
Late Adulthood......Page 118
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 124
Website Resources......Page 125
CHAPTER 4 Your Body and Wellness......Page 127
Where Am I Now?......Page 128
Wellness and Life Choices......Page 129
Maintaining Sound Health Practices......Page 134
Your Bodily Identity......Page 142
Summary......Page 150
Website Resources......Page 151
CHAPTER 5 Managing Stress......Page 153
Where Am I Now?......Page 154
Sources of Stress......Page 156
Effects of Stress......Page 159
Ineffective Reactions to Stress......Page 163
Posttraumatic Stress Disorders......Page 165
Sexual Exploitation......Page 167
Constructive Responses to Stress......Page 174
Time Management......Page 178
Meditation......Page 179
Mindfulness......Page 181
Deep Relaxation......Page 182
Yoga......Page 183
Therapeutic Massage......Page 185
Summary......Page 187
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 188
Website Resources......Page 189
CHAPTER 6 Love......Page 191
Where Am I Now?......Page 192
Love Makes a Difference......Page 193
Learning to Love and Appreciate Ourselves......Page 195
Authentic and Inauthentic Love......Page 197
Barriers to Loving and Being Loved......Page 201
Is It Worth It to Love?......Page 209
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 211
Website Resources......Page 212
CHAPTER 7 Relationships......Page 213
Where Am I Now?......Page 214
Types of Intimacy......Page 215
Meaningful Relationships: A Personal View......Page 218
Anger and Conflict in Relationships......Page 223
Dealing with Communication Barriers......Page 228
Gay and Lesbian Relationships......Page 231
Separation and Divorce......Page 237
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 243
Website Resources......Page 244
CHAPTER 8 Becoming the Woman or Man You Want to Be......Page 247
Where Am I Now?......Page 248
Male Roles......Page 249
Female Roles......Page 261
Alternatives to Rigid Gender-Role Expectations......Page 271
Summary......Page 274
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 275
Website Resources......Page 276
CHAPTER 9 Sexuality......Page 277
Where Am I Now?......Page 278
Learning to Talk Openly about Sexual Issues......Page 279
Developing Your Sexual Values......Page 281
Sex and Guilt......Page 284
Learning to Enjoy Sensuality and Sexuality......Page 287
Sex and Intimacy......Page 289
AIDS: A Contemporary Crisis......Page 291
Other Sexually Transmitted Infections......Page 296
Summary......Page 297
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 298
Website Resources......Page 299
CHAPTER 10 Work and Recreation......Page 301
Where Am I Now?......Page 302
Your College Education as Your Work......Page 304
Choosing an Occupation or Career......Page 305
The Process of Deciding on a Career......Page 314
Choices at Work......Page 319
Changing Careers in Midlife......Page 322
Retirement......Page 323
The Place of Recreation in Your Life......Page 326
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 331
Website Resources......Page 333
CHAPTER 11 Loneliness and Solitude......Page 335
Where Am I Now?......Page 336
The Value of Solitude......Page 337
The Experience of Loneliness......Page 338
Learning to Confront the Fear of Loneliness......Page 339
Creating Our Own Loneliness Through Shyness......Page 342
Loneliness and Our Life Stages......Page 346
Summary......Page 356
Website Resources......Page 357
CHAPTER 12 Death and Loss......Page 359
Where Am I Now?......Page 360
Our Fears of Death......Page 362
Death and the Meaning of Life......Page 364
Suicide: Ultimate Choice, Ultimate Surrender, or Ultimate Tragedy?......Page 369
Freedom in Dying......Page 372
The Hospice Movement......Page 375
The Stages of Death and Loss......Page 377
Grieving Over Death, Separation, and Other Losses......Page 381
Being "Dead" Psychologically and Socially......Page 386
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 390
Website Resources......Page 391
CHAPTER 13 Meaning and Values......Page 393
Where Am I Now?......Page 394
Our Quest for Identity......Page 395
Our Search for Meaning and Purpose......Page 397
The Foundations of Meaning......Page 400
Religion/Spirituality and Meaning......Page 404
Our Values in Action......Page 407
Embracing Diversity......Page 410
Protecting Our Planet......Page 419
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 423
Website Resources......Page 425
CHAPTER 14 Pathways to Personal Growth......Page 427
Where Am I Now?......Page 428
Pathways for Continued Self-Exploration......Page 429
Counseling as a Path to Self-Understanding......Page 431
Dreams as a Path to Self-Understanding......Page 434
Concluding Comments......Page 437
Where Can I Go From Here?......Page 438
Website Resources......Page 439
References and Suggested Readings......Page 442
Index......Page 454