INSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS ON PROFESSIONALISM, THE CASE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS. PAPER PRESENTED AT A NATIONAL SEMINAR ON ADULT EDUCATION RESEARCH (CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 11-13, 1968)

AS PART OF A LARGER STUDY OF CAREERS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD BEING MADE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, THIS INVESTIGATION STUDIED (1) A MODEL FOR STUDYING PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR, (2) EXTENT TO WHICH PROFESSIONAL, IDEOLOGICAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS INFLUENCE PROFESSIONAL FUNCTIONS, AND (3) IMPLICATIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING PROFESSIONAL ADULT EDUCATORS. PROFESSIONAL MENTAL HEALTH PERSONNEL WERE STUDIED BY QUESTIONNAIRE IN METROPOLITAN CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES, AND NEW YORK. LINES OF SPECIALIZATION WERE DRAWN BETWEEN MEDICALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS WHO DID THERAPY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE AND NONMEDICAL PROFESSIONALS WHO ENGAGED IN ADMINISTRATION AND NON-INTENSIVE CLIENT CONTACT. AFTER ANALYZING THE PROFESSIONS AND MAJOR JOB ACTIVITIES, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORK SETTING WAS THE BEST PREDICTOR OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN FIVE OUT OF SIX TYPES OF FUNCTIONS, AND WAS A PREREQUISITE TO UNDERSTANDING THE INFLUENCE OF IDEOLOGICAL ADHERENCE AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH IN ADULT EDUCATION INCLUDE THE NEED TO STUDY PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR IN THE WORK SITUATION, TO CONCENTRATE ON ORGANIZATIONAL AND SOCIAL CONTROLS, AND TO INCLUDE A METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY IN THE STUDY. THIS PAPER WAS PRESENTED AT A NATIONAL SEMINAR ON ADULT EDUCATION RESEARCH (CHICAGO, FEBRUARY 11-13, 1968). (PT)