Mentors and Protégés: A Critical Review of the Literature

Abstract

Within the last few years, mentoring has emerged as a popular topic in several fields. Articles and talk shows imply that success in life is somehow related to having a mentor or being a mentor. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the extent to which such enthusiasm can be substantiated by research. The literature on mentoring is divided into three sections: the mentoring phenomenon in adult growth and development, mentoring in the business world, and mentoring in academic settings. A concluding section summarizes findings across these three settings, speculates about the relevance of mentoring for adult educators, and suggests avenues for future inquiry.