In the 1960's and early 1970's, there was strong optimism among corrections professionals regarding their ability to mount programs for offenders that would significantly reduce recidivism. This period was followed by widespread pessimism during 1975-81 based on evaluation studies that tended to show widespread ineffectiveness in corrections programs. This was followed by a mixed, unsettled atmosphere in the early 1980's. During the rest of the 1980's, rehabilitation (growth-centered rehabilitation) gained strength in terms of focus and direction. This was largely because there was a general consensus among corrections researchers and practitioners that, especially among chronic offenders, multiple modality programs were needed, increased intensity of contact was important, and greater attention should be given to individuals' needs and characteristics, e.g., to matching their needs with particular program elements. By 1988-89, such intervention regained considerable pragmatic, moral, scientific, and philosophical legitimacy. These developments suggest that growth-centered intervention will have an important role in the 1990's. 49 references