Summary
Three distinct group therapeutic models are described and discussed in this paper, and an attempt is made to suggest a more inclusive, unitary model of the therapy group. The group models are 1) a member to therapist group, 2) a group to therapist group and 3) a member to member group. Each model carries specific implications about the focus of therapy and dominant group themes. Each model ignores much to which the other models attend. A systems theory model of group therapy which encompasses the three models is outlined. In this systems theory the therapist is conceptualized as a central regulatory figure whose behavior is critical in defining the boundary between the group and its environment. The therapist's definition of the group's task and boundary has important implications for the relationships of group members. Modifications in therapists' regulatory behavior will lead to predictable modifications in intra-group behavior.
Résumé
Trois modèles différents de thérapie de groupe sont décrits et discutés dans ce travail, et on essaye de suggérer un modèle plus global, unitaire de groupe thérapeutique. Les modèles de groupes sont: 1) un groupe «membre à thérapeute», 2) un groupe «groupe à thérapeute» et 3) un groupe «membre à membre». Chaque modèle comporte des implications spécifiques quant au focus de la thérapie et aux thèmes de groupe dominants. Chaque modèle ignore largement les préoccupations des autres modèles. Un modèle théorique des systèmes de thérapie de groupe qui comprendrait les trois modèles est esquissé. Dans cette théorie de systèmes, le thérapeute est conceptualisé comme une figure centrale régulatrice, dont le comportement est critique dans la définition des limites entre le groupe et son entourage. La définition donnée par le thérapeute des tâches et des limites du groupe a d'importantes implications dans les relations des membres du groupe. Des modifications dans le comportement régulateur du thérapeute conduiront à des modifications prévisibles dans le comportement à l'intérieur du groupe.
Zusammenfassung
Drei verschiedene gruppentherapeutische Modelle werden in dieser Arbeit beschrieben und diskutiert, außerdem wird versucht, ein umfassenderes und einheitlicheres Modell der therapeutischen Gruppen vorzuschlagen. Die Gruppenmodelle akzentuieren 1. ein Gruppenmitglied gegenüber dem Therapeuten, 2. eine Gruppe gegenüber dem Therapeuten und 3. ein Gruppenmitglied gegenüber den anderen Gruppenmitgliedern. Jedes Modell bringt spezifische Folgeerscheinungen in bezug auf den Fokus der Therapie und die vorherrschenden Gruppenthemen mit sich. Jedes Modell ignoriert weitgehend das, worauf das andere achtet. Es wird ein systemtheoretisches Modell von Gruppentherapie entworfen, das die drei Modelle umfaßt. In dieser Systemtheorie wird der Therapeut als eine zentrale normensetzende Figur begriffen, dessen Verhalten über die Definition der Grenzen zwischen der Gruppe und ihrer Umgebung entscheidet. Die Definition der Gruppenaufgabe und -grenze durch den Therapeuten hat bedeutsame Folgen für die Beziehungen der Gruppenmitglieder. Veränderungen in dem normensetzenden Verhalten des Therapeuten wird zu voraussagbaren Veränderungen innerhalb des Verhaltens der Gruppen führen.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Argyris, C.: Integrating the individual and the organization. New York: John Wiley 1964.
—: On the future of laboratory education. J. Applied Behavioral Sci.3, 153–183 (1967). Comments on the article by Coffey, H. S., Kingsbury, S., Mann, R. D., Medown, H., Shepard, H. A., Tannebaum, R., Thelen, H. A., Work, H. H. pp. 184–210.
—: Conditions for competence acquisition and therapy. J. Applied Behavioral Sci.4, 147–177 (1968).
Astrachan, B. M., Harrow, M., Becker, R. E., Schwartz, A. H., Miller, J. C.: The unled patient group as a Therapeutic tool. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.17, 178–191 (1967a).
— —, Flynn, H. R.: Influence of the value-system of a psychiatric setting on behavior in group therapy meetings. Soc. Psychiat.3, 165–172 (1968).
—, Redlich, F. C.: Leadership Ambiguity and its effect on residents' study groups. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.19, 487–494 (1969).
—, Schwartz, A. H., Becker, R. E., Harrow, M.: The psychiatrist's effect on the behavior and interaction of therapy groups. Amer. J. Psychiat.12, 1379–1387 (1967b).
Becker, R. E., Harrow, M., Astrachan, B. M., Detre, T., Miller, J. C.: Influence of the leader on the activity level of therapy groups. J. Soc. Psychol.74, 39–51 (1968).
Bennis, W. G., Schein, E. H.: Interpersonal dynamics. Homewood, Illinois: Richard D. Irwin 1964.
Berne, E.: Principles of group treatment. New York: Oxford U. Press 1966.
Bion, W.: Experiences in groups. London: Tavistock Publications 1961.
Boulding, K. E.: General systems theory—the skeleton of science. In: Modern systems research for the behavioral scientist. Ed.: W. Buckley. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co. 1968.
Cartwright, D., Zander, A. (Eds.): Group dynamics. Evanston, Ill.: Row, Peterson 1953.
Christmas, J. J., Davis, E. B.: Group therapy programs with the socially deprived in community psychiatry. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.15, 464–476 (1965).
Curry, A. E.: Therapeutic management of multiple family groups. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.15, 90–96 (1965).
Culbert, S. A.: Trainer self-disclosure and member growth in two T-groups. J. Applied. Behavioral Sci.4, 47–73 (1968).
Dentler, R. A., Erikson, K. T.: The functions of deviance in groups. Social Problems7, 98–107 (1959).
Deutsch, K.: The nerves of government. New York: Free Press, McMillan Co. 1968.
Drucker, P. F.: The age of discontinuity. New York: Harper & Row, Inc. 1969.
Ezriel, H.: Notes on psychoanalytic group therapy: II. Interpretation and research. Psychiatry15, 119–126 (1952).
Fidler, J. W.: Group psychotherapy of psychotics. Amer. J. Orthopsych.35, 688–694 (1965).
Foulkes, S. H.: Therapeutic group analysis. New York: Int. U. Press 1965.
- Anthony, E. J.: Group psychotherapy. Penguin Books, Revised 1964.
Freud, S.: Group psychology and the analysis of the ego. New York: Liverwright 1949.
Giarman, N., Freedman, D. X.: Biochemical aspects of the actions of psychomimetic drugs. Pharmacol. Rev.17, 1–25 (1965).
Gottlieb, A., Pattison, E. M.: Married couples group psychotherapy. Arch. gen. Psychiat.14, 143 (1966).
Gretekos, C., Halperin, D., Fidler, J.: Group communication with chronic “rehabilitated” psychiatric patients. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.16, 51–57 (1966).
Hadden, S. B.: Treatment of male homosexuals in groups. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.16, 13–22 (1966).
Haigh, G. V.: A personal growth crisis in laboratory training. J. Applied Behavioral Sci.4, 437–452 (1968).
Hall, A. D., Fagen, R. E.: Definition of system. In: Modern systems research for the behavioral scientist. Ed.: W. Buckley. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co. 1968.
Hanson, P. G.: Rothaus, P., Johnson, D. L., Lyle, F. A.: Autonomous groups in human relations training for psychiatric patients. Paper presented at annual meeting of Americal Psychological Association, Los Angeles, California, Sept. 1964.
Harrow, M., Astrachan, B. M., Becker, R. E., Miller, J. C., Schwartz, A. H.: Influence of the psychotherapist on the emotional climate in group therapy. Human Relations.20, 49–64 (1967a).
— — —, Detre, T., Schwartz, A. H.: An investigation into the nature of the patient-family therapy group. Amer. J. Orthopsychiat.37, 888–899 (1967 b).
Hes, J. Ph., Handler, S. L.: Multidimensional group therapy. Arch. gen. Psychiat5, 70–75 (1961).
Heslin, R., Dunphy, D.: Three dimensions of member satisfaction in small groups. Human Relations17, 99 (1964).
Hoffman, J., Arsenian, S.: An Examination of some models applied to group structure and process. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.15, 131–153 (1965).
Kadis, A. L.: The alternate meeting in group psychotherapy. Amer. J. Psychother.10, 275–291 (1956).
Kelman, H. C.: The role of the group in the induction of therapeutic change. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.13, 399–432 (1963).
Kernberg, P.: Experiences with open groups on a state hospital admission ward. Bull. Menn. Clinic29, 27–34 (1965).
Khailov, K. M.: The problem of systemic organization in theoretical biology. In: Modern systems research for the behavioral scientist. Ed.: W. Buckley. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co. 1968.
Klein, E., Astrachan, B. M.: Learning in groups. Submitted for publication.
- Gould, L.: Fuck you with flowers: Metaphor and organizational dynamics. Eds.: Claudewell S. Thomas, Elizabeth C. Bellis and Edward Klein. Issues in Community Psychiatry. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas (in press).
Laquer, H. P., Laburt, H. A., Morong, E.: Multiple family therapy. Current Psychiatric Therapies, Vol. IV. Ed.: J. H. Masserman. New York: Gruen & Stratton, Inc 1964.
Lasswell, H., Rubenstein, R.: The sharing of power within a psychiatric hospital. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press 1966.
Lewin, K.: Field theory in social science. New York: Harper 1951.
—, Lippitt, R.: An experimental approach to the study of autocracy and democracy: A preliminary note. Sociometry1, 292–300 (1938).
Lieberman, M. A.: Current conceptual and methological issues in group therapy research implications of total group phenomena analyses for patients and therapists. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.17, 71–81 (1967).
—, Larkin, M., Whitaker, D. S.: Problems and potential of psychoanalytic and group-dynamic theories for group psychotherapy. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.19, 131–141 (1969).
Liederman, P. C., Green, R.: Geriatric outpatient group therapy. Comp. Psychiat.6, 51–60 (1965).
Marsh, L. C.: Group treatment of the psychoses by the psychological equivalent of the revival. Mental Hygiene15, 328–349 (1931).
Miller, E. J., Rice, A. K.: Systems of organization. London: Tavistock Publications 1967.
Mills, T. M.: The sociology of small groups. Englewood, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall 1967.
—: Group transformation. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall 1965.
Mullen, H.: Status denial in group psychoanalysis. In: Rosenbaum, M., Berger, M. (Eds.), Group psychotherapy and group function. New York: Basic Books 1963.
Parsons, T.: The social system. Glencoe, Illinois: The Free Press 1951.
—: Social structure and personality. New York: Free Press of Glencoe 1964.
Pattison, E. M.: Evaluation studies of group psychotherapy. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.15, 382–397 (1965).
Redl, F.: Group emotion and leadership. Psychiatry5, 573–596 (1942).
Redlich, F. C., Astrachan, B. M.: Group dynamics training. Amer. J. Psychiat.125, 1501–1507 (1969).
Rice, A. K.: The enterprise and its environment. London: Tavistock Publications 1964.
—: Learning for leadership. London: Tavistock Publications 1965.
Rothaus, P., Johnson, D. L., Hanson, P. G., Lyle, F. A.: Autonomous and trainer-led patient groups. Paper presented at annual meeting of American Psychological Association, Los Angeles, California 1964.
Schein, E. H., Bennis, W. G. (Eds.): Personal and organizational change through group methods. New York: John Wiley & Sons 1965.
Slater, P. E.: Microcosm. New York: John Wiley & Sons 1966.
Slavson, S. R.: Are there “group dynamics” in therapy groups. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.7, 131–154 (1957).
—: A textbook in analytic group psychotherapy. New York: Int. U. Press 1964.
Sutherland, J. D.: Notes on psychoanalytic group therapy: I. Therapy and training. Psychiatry15, 111–117 (1952).
Thomas, E. J., Fink, C. F.: Effects of group size. Psychol. Bull.60, 371–384 (1963).
Truax, C. B.: Effects of alternate sessions and vicarious therapy pre-training on group psychotherapy. Int. J. GR. Psychother.18, 186–198 (1968).
Tuckman, B. W.: Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychol. Bull.63, 384–399 (1965).
Turquet, P.: Unpublished lecture notes.
von Bertalanffy, L.: General systems theory—A critical review. In: Modern systems research for the behavioral scientist. Ed.: W. Buckley. Chicago: Aldine Publishing Co. 1968.
Westman, J. C., Carek, D. J., McDermott, J. F.: A comparison of married couples in the same and separate therapy groups. Int. J. Gr. Psychother.15, 374–381 (1965).
Whitaker, D. S., Lieberman, M. A.: Psychotherapy through the group process. New York: Atherton Press 1965.
Wolf, A.: The psychoanalysis of groups. Amer. J. Psychother.3, 525–558 (1949).
—: The psychoanalysis of groups. Amer. J. Psychother.4, 16–50 (1950).
Yalom, I. D.: A study of group therapy dropouts. Arch. gen. Psychiat.14, 393–414 (1966).
—, Rand, K.: Compatibility and cohesiveness in therapy groups. Arch. gen. psychiat.15, 267–275 (1966).
—: Prediction of improvement in group therapy. Arch. gen. Psychiat.17, 159–169 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Astrachan, B.M. Towards a social systems model of therapeutic groups. Soc Psychiatry 5, 110–119 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00594723
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00594723