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We describe the importance of charge-exchange reactions, and in particular Gamow-Teller transitions, in astrophysical processes and double beta decay, and in understanding of nuclear structure. We first provide an overview of the central role played by the isovector pairing and the quadrupole-quadrupole channels in the description of energy spectra and in the manifestation of collective modes, some associated with deformation of the nuclear shape. We then turned our focus to Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions in relatively light nuclei, especially in the 2p1f shell, where isoscalar pairing may be playing a role in competition with the isovector pairing that dominates in heavier regions. Following a summary of the progress made in recent years on this subject, we report a systematic shell model study aimed at providing further clarification as to how these pairing modes compete. In this study, we use a schematic Hamiltonian that contains a quadrupole-quadrupole interaction as well as both isoscalar and isovector pairing interactions. We first find an optimal set of Hamiltonian parameters for the model, to provide a starting point from which to vary the relevant pairing strengths and thus assess how this impacts the behavior of GT transitions and the corresponding energy spectra and rotational properties of the various nuclei involved in the decays. The analysis includes as an important theme a comparison with experimental data. The need to suppress the isoscalar pairing mode when treating nuclei with a neutron excess to avoid producing spurious results for the ground state spin and parity with the simplified Hamiltonian is highlighted. Varying the strength parameters for the two pairing modes is found to exhibit different but systematic effects on GT transition properties and on the corresponding energy spectra, which are detailed. (abridged)