James B. Wise

The Influence of Sources of Self-Efficacy Upon Efficacy Strength

This study examined the influence of different sources of efficacy information on self-efficacy strength. Forty-eight women ranging from 18 to 40 years of age were recruited from a university population and randomly assigned to one of six groups. Each group received three sources of bench-press efficacy information (performance accomplishment, model, verbal message) presented in a different sequence. Bench-press efficacy strength was measured after each source of efficacy information. Results indicated that a performance accomplishment led to significantly stronger bench-press efficacy than did observation of a model, which in turn was more effective in strengthening efficacy than was hearing a verbal message. Second, performance accomplishment strengthened bench-press efficacy even when it followed one or both of the other sources of efficacy information. Finally, a verbal persuasion message was most effective in strengthening efficacy when it followed a performance accomplishment.

Preparing future professionals to serve as moral agents

Therapeutic recreation/recreation therapy (TR/RT) is a value-laden, moral, learned-service profession in which professionals are called to enhance the well-being of people with illnesses and disabling conditions. Functioning well entails being competent with requisite technical knowledge, skills, and abilities and learning of, adopting, and acting in accordance with the profession’s calling. This brief article concentrates on the second aspect, the development of future professionals who adopt and act in accordance with the professions calling. The hope is this inquiry spurs dialog on the best way to develop future professionals who serve as moral agents.

Leisure and Work: Interdependent Facets of Human Flourishing

Human flourishing is a principal goal of therapeutic recreation (TR) services so therapeutic recreation specialists (TRSs) must be well versed in all aspects of flourishing. Two critical aspects are leisure and work. Leisure’s contributions to flourishing have been studied and reported but the same cannot be said for work. Therefore, this article explores two conceptualizations of work. One conceptualization is based on Marx’s philosophical anthropology and one is based on MacIntyre’s notion of practices. In addition, the relationships of these views to leisure and human flourishing are highlighted. The article concludes by discussing potential consequences emanating from accepting the premise that work and leisure are interdependent facets of human flourishing. Possible consequences for TR include incorporating different work perspectives into the preparation, credentialing and continuing education of professionals; addressing work related issues with TR services; and broadening professionals’ purview to encompass work aspirations of service recipients. Subscribe to TRJ

Calling professionals to action

Professionals who advocate for cleaving the present therapeutic recreation practice along philosophical lines are called to step forward and lead preparations for the separation. The primary and most crucial task facing each group of advocates is developing a philosophical foundation. A foundation is critical because it guides every aspect of a practice including the identification of requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to excel as practitioners, and determination of the profession’s name and practitioners’ title. Developing philosophical foundations for the two desired practices and completing the concomitant tasks ensures the formation of viable practices that can benefit everyone.

Deepened Ecological Model: A Fresh Perspective on the Experience of Disability

Therapeutic recreation (TR) exists to serve people who experience disability. Delivering quality, appropriate services is predicated upon a profound understanding of the phenomenon. This article, after briefly analyzing the models of disability commonly cited in TR literature, presents a fresh perspective of the phenomenon. The perspective, portraying disability as malleable, possessing the potential to be positive and contributing to human flourishing, is derived from a deepened version of the ecological model. The deepened model is well suited for capturing the complex interplay of elements giving rise to the experience of disability so therapeutic recreation specialists (TRS) are strongly urged to adopt the fresh perspective and framework as guides for developing and delivering quality services.

Using the knowledge-and-appraisal personality architecture to predict self-efficacy within individual persons.

The knowledge-and-appraisal personality architecture has potential as a theoretical framework for understanding the formation of self-efficacy in individuals. Two patterns were observed within 14 of 17 individual persons: a pattern of strong self-efficacy was displayed across outdoor recreation activities for which a self-descriptive attribute was viewed as an asset to successful performances, and a pattern of relatively weak self-efficacy was observed across outdoor recreation activities for which the same attribute was considered a hindrance to performances. Although the theory predicts self-efficacy within individuals, more research is needed to assess why the theory is not accurate in all cases.