LESSON 1: NATURE, MEANING AND SCOPE OF GUIDANCE AND FOUNDATIONS OF GUIDANCE

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Define guidance from the point of view of guidance proponents

2. Discuss the nature and scope of guidance work, particularly in the school setting

3. Explain the importance of knowing the different aspects of guidance

4. Identify the various foundations of Guidance and Counseling

NATURE, MEANING AND SCOPE OF GUIDANCE

NATURE OF GUIDANCE

Guidance is education itself. It aims at educating the individual for understanding himself, unfolding his
potentialities to the maximum so that he may eventually prove himself to be an adjusted and
progressive member of the community.

Guidance is a process. It is a process that enables an individual in discovering himself in the most
satisfying and positive manner.

Guidance is a continuous process. It is a dynamic and a non-stop process. In this process, an individual
understands himself, learns to maximize his own capacities, interests and other abilities.

Guidance is related with life. It is related to human life, its problems and challenges and how to face
them. Guidance helps people to live a balanced and tension free-life with full satisfaction under the
circumstances.

Guidance is self-direction. The nature of Guidance is not to thrust itself on an individual. It does not
make choices for him for the ultimate purpose of guidance is to guide the individual in directing himself,
making his own choices, fixing his own life-goals and carrying his own burden.

Guidance is individual-centered. The focus of all guidance program is the individual who need to
manage himself today and tomorrow by a healthy alignment of individual desires and aspiration with
socially desirable good.

Guidance is a qualified, complex and organized service. Guidance is catered by qualified and trained
personnel. Hence, guidance is a skill-involved process.

Guidance is based on individual differences. The fact that individuals differ significantly, forms the basis
of Guidance.

Universality of guidance. Guidance is for all. Every person needs guidance at all the stages of life
situations from childhood to old age.

Guidance is making potential actual. Guidance program aid the individual in the discovery of his/her
hidden potential for his/her own benefit and for the community.
Preparation for future. The process of guidance is helpful in preparing a person for his future in terms of
career and vocation.

Modification of Behavior. Guidance helps the persons in his adjustment in different situations and to
modify one’s behavior as the situation warrants.

DEFINITION OF GUIDANCE

1. Hamrin - is “Helping John to see through himself in order that he may see himself through.”

2. Lefever- Is the systematic, organized phase of the educative process which helps a youth to
grow in his own power, to give point and direction to his own life with the end in view that he
may get richer personal experiences as he makes his own contribution to the society.

3. Jones- Involves personal help given to someone; it is designed to assist the person to decide
where he wants to go, what he wants to do, or how he can best accomplish his purpose. It does
not solve problems for the individual but helps him to solve them.

4. Crow and Crow- is the assistance made available by personally qualified and adequately trained
men and women to an individual of any age to help him manage his own life activities, develop
his own point of view, make his own decisions, and carry his own burdens.

5. Ohlsen- Is a cooperative enterprise in which many people working together organize their
knowledge to contribute to the solution of a student’s problems and the development of his
potentialities.

6. Bennett- Is a process of helping the individual to determine his physical, social, intellectual, and
personality assets and liabilities as well as to know the conditions, requirements, and
opportunities of the situations, confronting him.

7. Ryan and Zeran- serves a supporting function in the educational process by directing and
controlling activities to help individual develop his fullest potential.

8. Aquino and Alviar- tends to help the Individual to become adjusted to his present situation so
as to provide the maximum development for him and to help him plan for his future.

9. Wrinkle and Gilchrist- means to stimulate and help the student set up worthwhile, achievable
purpose and to develop abilities which will make it possible for him to achieve his purpose.

10. Peters and Farwell- may be defined as a point of view. The guidance point of view emphasizes
the unique needs of each individual, needs which may not be compatible with those needs
which the teacher so often pre-determines
SCOPE OF GUIDANCE

The scope of guidance is too wide. It covers all aspects of individual’s personality - physical, mental,
emotional and social.

Factors that are responsible for the expansion of the scope of guidance.

1. Complex nature of personality

2. Complexity of Occupation

3. Complexity of Training

4. Increasing Areas

5. Migration

6. The Expansion of Education

7. Areas/Aspects of Guidance

ASPECTS OF GUIDANCE

Educational Guidance - is concerned with the assistance given to pupils in their choices and adjustments
in relation to the school.

a. Pre-school Guidance - aimed at studying children’s attitudes and his behavior with others when
playing or studying.

b. Elementary School Guidance - aimed primarily on the development of fundamental attitudes, know
how, and social skills of a person as s/he matures from childhood to adolescence.

c. High School Guidance - aimed at developing social competencies among students as they become
participative citizens and productive adults in society.

d. College Guidance - aimed at assistance, provision, and guidance of the student’s changing interest on
modification in their adjustment as they prepare to be on their own as young professionals someday.

Vocational Guidance - it is considered as the process of assisting an individual to choose a career or

vocation, preparation, placement or entering into a job and making him progress in his work.

Socio-Civic and Moral Guidance – is focused on developing a knowledge about his Creator and his
responsibilities toward his fellowmen, practicing good values, and living a worthwhile adult life as a
participative, responsible member of society.

Personal Guidance - is the assistance given when the problem of the individual is rather emotional or
confidential in nature

Health Guidance - involves activities in advising and aiding the students achieve and retain health, both
body and mind.
FOUNDATIONS OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING

There are five popular disciplines in the literature considered as the major foundations of Guidance and

Counselling, they are: philosophy, biology, psychology, anthropology, and sociology.

PHILOSOPHY

• Derived from Greek word (φιλοσοφία) - “Love of Wisdom”

• Considered as a very important foundations of Guidance and Counseling (where Socratic

Method originated)

• This field had provided understanding about the nature of a human being and how they must be
attended.

PSYCHOLOGY

• “The study of human mind and behavior”

• Where Guidance and Counseling are largely derived from

Area of Psychology that is related to Guidance and Counseling

General Psychology – foundation of understanding human behavior

Developmental Psychology – critical stages over the life span

Educational Psychology – learning, human growth and development

Social Psychology – explain the actions of a person in relation to others

Environmental Psychology – interrelationship between human behavior and its environment

BIOLOGY

• “The study of living organism”

• Explains the vital process of human beings which impacts on their thoughts, feelings, behaviors,
plans and goals, social relationships and more.

ANTHROPOLOGY

• “The study of Humanity”

• Helps in understanding human groups and their influence on human behavior.

• Focuses on understanding social rules and processes

SOCIOLOGY

• “The study of human social relationship and institutions”

• Tries to determine the laws governing human behavior in social context; concerned with all
kinds of group activity