ABSTRACT: A theory of action perspective is applied
to adult learning problems, including becoming a more
effective leader. Results suggest that adults may not
be able to discover-invent-produce the learning that is
necessary to behave more effectively; that they may be
unaware of this possibility; and that if they try to get
help from well-intentioned others, it will tend to make
things worse. The results are applied to the adult
educational perspectives represented by Fiedler and
Y room and their respective collaborators.