In psychodynamic group psychotherapy with less explicit direction from the leader, anxiety among group members increases and hitherto unconscious dynamics become more apparent. Transference and countertransference phenomena abound and can be clarified, with the potential for interpersonal learning.
Full Answer
What are the different types of group dynamics?
(ii) Group dynamics consists of a set of techniques such as role playing, brainstorming, group therapy, sensitivity training etc. (iii) Group dynamics deals with internal nature of groups, their formation, structure and process, and the way they affect individual members, other groups and the organisation as a whole.
How do group dynamics affect decision making?
How group dynamics affect decisions. Groups of people make better or worse decisions depending on the composition of the group and experience of the leader. When groups of people work together, the decisions they make result from more than just the decision-making prowess of the individuals.
What are the effects of poor group dynamics in the workplace?
In a group with poor group dynamics, people’s behavior disrupts work. As a result, the group may not come to any decision or they would not support a positive learning environment that helps in a better cooperative framework and allow people to express their opinion, trust the trainers and to integrate and share content and experiences.
Is there a need for group dynamics in the healthcare setting?
Research in Psychology and Behavioral Sciences. 2017, 5 (1), 30-35. DOI: 10.12691/rpbs-5-1-5 Group dynamics have broad and necessary applications. And there is arguably no more of a need for such than in a healthcare setting as a result of the fast-paced, high pressure, and seemingly always shifting focus from patient need within policy framework.
What is group dynamics in therapy?
Group Dynamics They are complex social processes that occur within groups and that affect actions and outcomes (Lewin, 1948). Group dynamics occur in all groups, and involve the interactions of group members and leaders over time, including the roles the members and the lead- ers take.
How does group dynamics affect behavior?
One big factor affecting the quality of decisions is whether a decision involves a group. Group dynamics can lead otherwise sensible individuals to make (or agree to) decisions they might not come to on their own. At times the effects are positive, as when some group members help others overcome prejudices.
Are there group dynamics in therapy groups?
A group of persons in any type of active occupation sets up specific dynamics that are more or less universal. Some of them are discernible in therapy groups as well.
How does group dynamics affect the organization?
In organizations group dynamics provides strength, builds trust, motivates people and develops creativity, communication, conflict resolution skills and help the organization to get better output. It creates bond among employees which will help them in giving their best to the organization.
How does group dynamics affect group decision?
Groups of people make better or worse decisions depending on the composition of the group and experience of the leader. When groups of people work together, the decisions they make result from more than just the decision-making prowess of the individuals.
What are the positive and negative aspects of group dynamics?
When dynamics are positive, the group works well together. When dynamics are poor, the group's effectiveness is reduced. Problems can come from weak leadership, too much deference to authority, blocking, groupthink and free riding, among others.
What is group dynamics and its importance?
Group dynamics deals with the attitudes and behavioral patterns of a group. It can be used as a means for problem-solving, teamwork, and to become more innovative and productive as an organization.
Why is it important to understand group dynamics?
A sound understanding of group dynamics, and the role it plays in business, is a critical component of successful management. When a good dynamic exists within a group working toward a common goal, each individual member will perform effectively and achieve goals set by the group.
What are group dynamics examples?
As humans social environments became more complex, they acquired adaptations by way of group dynamics that enhance survival. Examples include mechanisms for dealing with status, reciprocity, identifying cheaters, ostracism, altruism, group decision, leadership, and intergroup relations.
What are the factors affecting the Group Behaviour?
Five Influences on Group BehaviorInterdependence.Social interaction.Perception of a group.Commonality of purpose.Favoritism.
How Group Behaviour affects the organization performance?
Organisations gain from the members of cohesive group because they communicate better; they share ideologies and respect opinions of fellow employees. This all create an environment of cooperation resulting into benefits to the organisations in the form of increased productivity, low employee turnover etc.
What is the effect of the group on individual's attitude?
Findings show that group engagement increases individual attitudes toward social responsibility. We also found that individuals with low attitudes toward social responsibility are more likely to change their opinions when group members show more positive attitudes toward social responsibility.
What is the role of group dynamics in decision making?
Group dynamics play a critical role in the quality and creativity of their decisions.
Why should teams include members of equal status?
If a decision requires creativity, teams should include members of equal status and be well-managed so that all members contribute to the eventual decision. The kind of power Greer studies, however, has to do with more than just position on an organizational chart.
How does group therapy work?
Various factors are responsible for creating the changes in patients who have been treated in group therapy. Foulkes believed that there are four main therapeutic processes: mirroring, exchange, social integration and activation of the collective unconscious. The first three correspond to Yalom's curative factors; the fourth is more difficult to define but it corresponds to Foulkes's notion of the group matrix.
Who developed psychodynamic group therapy?
The third tradition of psychodynamic group therapy is group analysis, which was developed by S.H. Foulkes (1948) and is now the principal form of dynamic group therapy offered within the National Health Service (NHS) ( Box 3 ). Before looking at the method of group analysis I will outline some key areas of theory.
What is the leader activity in psychotherapy?
High levels of leader activity such as in psychoeducational or anxiety management groups mean that the group is being directed in its experience in order for members to acquire a new technique or skill. The learning is, in part, through identifying with the leader as an idealised object. In psychodynamic group psychotherapy with less explicit direction from the leader, anxiety among group members increases and hitherto unconscious dynamics become more apparent. Transference and countertransference phenomena abound and can be clarified, with the potential for interpersonal learning. There is a range of leadership styles between these extremes, which allows for more or less personality restructuring.
What is group psychotherapy?
Group psychotherapy is one of the most widely practised treatment methods in psychiatry, with an extensive literature, but it has long been regarded as the poor relation to individual therapy. Nineteenth-century ideas about the primacy of the individual, taken up by psychoanalysis, continue to dominate Western culture. Mrs Thatcher's famous remark “I don't believe in society. There is no such thing, only individual people, and there are families” ( Women's Own, 31 October 1987) typifies the extreme view in which the self and the individual's needs are paramount and are set above those of the group. Foulkes in the 1950s had put forward the opposite position, arguing that there is no such thing as an individual that exists apart from and outside the social (#N#Reference Foulkes#N#Foulkes, 1948;#N#Reference Foulkes and Anthony#N#Foulkes & Anthony, 1957 ).
How does learning in psychodynamics work?
The learning is, in part, through identifying with the leader as an idealised object. In psychodynamic group psychotherapy with less explicit direction from the leader, anxiety among group members increases and hitherto unconscious dynamics become more apparent.
How long does a slow open group stay in therapy?
Patients being treated in a ‘slow open’ group would remain in therapy on average for between 18 months and 3 years (longer for severe, chronic mental illness and personality disorder)
How to classify group methods?
One way of classifying group methods is by looking at two factors: therapeutic goals and group leadership (Pines & Shlapobersky, 2000) ( Fig. 1 ).
Why do working groups dissolve?
Alternatively, a working group may dissolve due to an organizational restructuring. Just as when we graduate from school or leave home for the first time, these endings can be bittersweet, with group members feeling a combination of victory, grief, and insecurity about what is coming next.
How does prejudice affect a group?
This form of prejudice can have a downward spiral effect. Not only is the group not getting corrective feedback from within its own confines, it is also closing itself off from input and a cross-fertilization of ideas from the outside. In such an environment, groups can easily adopt extreme ideas that will not be challenged. Denial increases as problems are ignored and failures are blamed on external factors. With limited, often biased, information and no internal or external opposition, groups like these can make disastrous decisions. Groupthink is a group pressure phenomenon that increases the risk of the group making flawed decisions by allowing reductions in mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment. Groupthink is most common in highly cohesive groups (Janis, 1972).
What is the forming stage of a group?
Forming. In the forming stage, the group comes together for the first time. The members may already know each other or they may be total strangers. In either case, there is a level of formality, some anxiety, and a degree of guardedness as group members are not sure what is going to happen next.
Why do groups have so much cohesion?
Keep in mind that groups can have too much cohesion. Because members can come to value belonging over all else, an internal pressure to conform may arise , causing some members to modify their behavior to adhere to group norms. Members may become conflict avoidant, focusing more on trying to please each other so as not to be ostracized. In some cases, members might censor themselves to maintain the party line. As such, there is a superficial sense of harmony and less diversity of thought. Having less tolerance for deviants, who threaten the group’s static identity, cohesive groups will often excommunicate members who dare to disagree. Members attempting to make a change may even be criticized or undermined by other members, who perceive this as a threat to the status quo. The painful possibility of being marginalized can keep many members in line with the majority.
How to build familiarity in a group?
Situate group members in close proximity to each other. This builds familiarity.
What is informal work group?
Informal work groups are made up of two or more individuals who are associated with one another in ways not prescribed by the formal organization. For example, a few people in the company who get together to play tennis on the weekend would be considered an informal group. A formal work group is made up of managers, subordinates, ...
How to avoid storming phase?
Try the following if you feel the group process you are involved in is not progressing: Normalize conflict. Let members know this is a natural phase in the group-formation process. Be inclusive.
What is group dynamics?
The word dynamics comes from a Greek word meaning force. Thus group dynamics refers basically to the study of forces operating within a group. The term group dynamics is defined in different ways.
Who laid down the principles of group dynamics?
In order to achieve support of group in the organisational interest, the following principles of group dynamics laid down by Dorwin Cartwright should be followed:
How can efficiency be examined?
The efficiency of manager can be examined from his ability to use group dynamics in the welfare of the organisation. It is the responsibility of a manager to use group dynamics in such a way that the strength of the group contributes to a favourable attitude towards high standards and acceptance of necessary changes.
How many members are in an informal group?
Normally, the optimum size of an informal organisation is from four to seven members. An inverse relationship exists between the size of the group and group cohesiveness. As the size of the group increases, its cohesiveness decreases. Because, there is a tendency for the group to breakdown into subgroups or cliques.
What is group behaviour?
Group behaviour or dynamics of the group includes qualities and personality traits of group members. In Indian industries there are six special types of groups normally interacting and their dynamic activities are supposed to be of immense help to the management.
Why do people want to belong to groups?
People want to belong to groups. The group’s common goal provides a sense of purpose, and self-selection homogenizes membership. At the same time, individuals also want to maintain their independent identities. The interpersonal and work-related behaviour are exhibited and analysed during the stages of group development.
What is the power of a group?
The groups may also drive power through negotiation and contracts, absorbing or joining hands with other groups.
Why is group dynamics important?
Group dynamics helps you understand how each person's actions make sense in the context of the group. In the above story, there are several group dynamics at play. June's own insecurities about her parenting have led to her interpreting two group member's silence as judgment.
What is group dynamics?
Group dynamics are the processes that occur between members of a group. These processes, as stated in systems theory, are complex, cyclical, reciprocal, and often occur simultaneously. There are several important factors which impact group dynamics, such as group member power, roles, and coalitions. Factors & Explanations.
How does systems theory help us understand group dynamics?
Systems theory describes how individuals behave within a system. As groups are considered systems, systems theory helps us begin to understand group dynamics. Systems theory involves understanding that group dynamics is a more complex process than just summing up the individual characteristics of each group member. Instead, group dynamics is best understood by combining the characteristics of each group member, how each group member's actions affect the group, and how these group interactions affect each group member. This creates a cyclical and reciprocal feedback loop which simultaneously impacts all group members and all group members' relationships.
How to describe caretaking in a group?
What do you feel your caretaking role is within a group? Are you a person who takes care of the emotional needs of the other members of the group, or are you a person who enjoys primarily being taken care of by the group? Write a two to three paragraph essay first describing what role you feel you usually take, and then explain what you could do differently to change your typical role. For example, you may feel that you are typically on the receiving end of caretaking in a group. In order to change this dynamic, you could talk less about your own problems, listen carefully to the issues of other people, and make an offer to help.
Why do subgroups form within a larger group?
These subgroups can impact the dynamics within the group because group members may support those members within their subgroup, and confront those outside of their subgroup.
How is group dynamics best understood?
Instead, group dynamics is best understood by combining the characteristics of each group member, how each group member's actions affect the group, and how these group interactions affect each group member.
What is the dynamic of over-supporting others?
This dynamic often creates an imbalance of needs getting met. Those who over-support others in the group tend to be less assertive in getting their needs met.
What is group dynamics?
Grounded in psychology research but with a practical focus on organizational behavior issues, Group Dynamics for Teams helps readers understand and participate in teams more effectively in day-to-day work. Best-selling author Daniel Levi and new co-author David A. Askay thoroughly examine basic group dynamics concepts, such as goals, norms, cooperation, and communication, as well as review the main challenges that teams face, such as conflict, decision making, problem solving, creativity, and valuing diversity. Throughout the book are discussions of the organizational context of teams, including the impacts of organizational culture, virtual teamwork, rewarding teams, and team building.
What does paying careful attention to group d ynamics lead to?
to pay careful attentio n to group d ynamics can lead to unproductive meetings and dissatisfied members. In extre me
Why do face to face groups always co-mmunicate?
messages. In face- to -face groups, members ar e always co mmunicating, because even if they ar e not communicating
How many procedures are used in group therapy?
This article provides an annotated summary of 26 different procedures potentially useful in analyzing group therapy process, and includes an overview of therapeutic themes, research issues, and clinical implications. The goal is to familiarize clinicians and researchers with the range of standardized and semi-standardized procedures available for studying group interactions that have appeared in the literature during the past several decades. The authors concentrate on observer rating systems and do not systematically review self-report instruments. It is argued that the application of objective rating systems may foster greater understanding of group therapeutic interactions than is generally possible through normal clinical observations.
Is it harmful to participate in a group?
Participating in a group experience may be as damaging to some individuals as it is beneficial to others. A review of the group literature and observations from practice provide the basis for this discussion of the casualties that occur in groups and strategies for their prevention and treatment.
