1. Both Tony and Larry told Nicki that she needed to become more responsible. Tony approached this need by asking Nicki for increased cooperation in household duties; Larry approached this need by forcing Nicki to accompany him to work at the hospital and to visit Jeremy in the state school for boys. Can responsibility be taught?

Were their views of how one gains responsibility realistic?

2. Nicki was guilty of any number of rule infractions which her family treated as very serious: stealing birth control pills for Meredith, lying about her whereabouts, influencing Jeremy to disobey, and asking Larry to lie to Meredith's mother about her condition.

In each case, Nicki was punished and left alone to think about her actions. In your view, might Nicki have been better handled by her guardians? Are they expecting an immediate change in attitude and behavior that Nicki is...