Psychosocial Potential Maximization: A Framework of Proactive Psychosocial Attributes and Tactics Used by Individuals who are Deaf

Abstract

This article presents a systematic and comprehensive framework of proactive psychosocial attributes and tactics that individuals who are deaf use to maximize their professional and social potential. Empirical studies regarding deafness appear to lack such a framework which may be due to how the research is conducted. A framework of proactive psychosocial attributes and tactics was found in Reff Ginsberg, and Gerber's (1995) study of learning disabilities. Reff et al. 's framework was thereafter used to frame a review of empirical studies related to deafness. It was found that individuals who are deaf likely maximize their potential using 2 sets of proactive psychosocial attributes and tactics: (1) skills that individuals with typical hearing use and (2) specialized skills for circumventing deafness-related dfflculties. It isfurt her argued that adult participants who are deaf will provide greater insight into how psychosocial potential is maximized. This literature review will be complemented by empiricalfindings in a later article.