The Visible and Invisible Group

Yvonne M. Agazarian

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9780429922725
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: History & Theory in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Understanding the psychodynamics of groups has derived from the two separate strands of theory and practice, resulting in two separate disciplines: group psychotherapy and group dynamics. Present-day group psychotherapy derives mainly from psychoanalytic theory and Bion's early experiences with wartime groups, and has been developed from the work of clinicians who practice group psychotherapy as a form of treatment. Group dynamics theory and practice, on the other hand, have arisen largely from the work of social scientists like Kurt Lewin, have been researched in the field and in the laboratory, and have been applied to groups as arenas for leadership training and behavioral change. The Visible and Invisible Group synthesizes these psychoanalytic and group approaches to group life and offers practical guidelines to the group psychotherapist. The authors advocate the simultaneous use of two perspectives: the psychoanalytic perspective for observing the "visible" group of people and their interactions, and a General Systems "Field Theory" perspective for observing the "invisible" group-as-a-whole.

Appendix 1
Phases of group development

The tables below summarize seven aspects of the phases of group development that are described by Herb Shepard and Warren Bennis. We are grateful to Dr Bennis and Dr Shepard for their generous support of our theoretical journey, and their permission to reprint their tables in the same form that they appeared in their article 'A theory of group development' (1956, pp. 428, 434). These summary tables provided the prototype for ours, which are presented at the end of chapter 5.

Table App. 1 Phases of group development (after Dennis and Shepard)

Phase I Dependence-power relations
		Sub-phase 1 Dependence-submission	Sub-phase 2 Counterdependence	Sub-phase 3 Resolution
1	Emotional modality	Dependence-flight	Counterdependence-flight. Off-target fighting among members. Distrust of staff member. Ambivalence	Pairing Intense involvement in group task
2	Content themes	Discussion of interpersonal problems external to training group	Discussion of group organization; i.e. what degree of structuring devices is needed for 'effective' group behavior?	Discussion and definition of trainer role
3	Dominant roles (central persons)	Assertive, aggressive members with rich previous organizational or social science experience	Most assertive counterdependent and dependent members. Withdrawal of less assertive independents and dependents	Assertive independents
4	Group structure	Organized mainly into multi-sub-groups based on members' past experiences	Two tight sub-cliques consisting of leaders and members, of counter-dependents and dependents	Group unifies in pursuit of goal and develops internal authority system
5	Group activity	Self-oriented behavior reminiscent of most new social gatherings	Search for consensus mechanism: voting, setting up chairmen, search for 'valid' content subjects	Group members take over leadership roles formerly perceived as held by trainer
6	Group movement facilitated by	Staff member abnegation of traditional role of structuring situation, setting up rules of fair play, regulation of participation	Disenthrallment with staff member coupled with absorption of uncertainty by most assertive counterdependent and dependent individuals. Sub-groups form to ward off anxiety	Revolt by assertive independents (catalysts) who fuse sub-groups into unity by initiating and engineering trainer exit (barometric event)
7	Main defenses	Projection Denigration of authority		Group moves into Phase II
Phase II Interdependence-Personal Relations
		Sub-phase 4 Enchantment	Sub-phase 5 Disenchantment	Sub-phase 6 Consensual validation
1	Emotional modality	Pairing-flight. Group becomes a respected icon beyond further analysis	Fight-flight. Anxiety reactions. Distrust and suspicion of various group members	Pairing, understanding, acceptance
2	Content themes	Discussion of 'group history', and generally salutary aspects of course, group, and membership	Revival of content themes used in sub-phase 1: What is a group? What are we doing here? What are the goals of the group? What do I have to give up – personally – to belong to this group? (How much intimacy and affection is required?) Invasion of privacy vs. 'group-giving'. Setting up proper codes of social behavior	Course grading system. Discussion and assessment of member roles
3	Dominant roles (central persons)	General distribution of participation for first time. Overpersonals have salience	Most assertive counterpersonal and overpersonal individuals, with counterpersonals especially salient	Assertive independents
4	Group structure	Solidarity, fusion. High degree of camaraderie and suggestibility. Le Bon's description of 'group mind' would apply here	Restructuring of membership into two competing predominant sub-groups made up of individuals who share similar attitudes concerning degree of intimacy required in social interaction, i.e. the counterpersonal and over-personal groups. The personal individuals remain uncommitted but act according to needs of situation	Diminishing of ties based on pers...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgments and dedication
• Introduction
• Appendix 1 Phases of group development
• Appendix 2 The force field
• Glossary
• Recommended reading
• Bibliography
• Index