Group Dynamics (CHAPTER 5: Selected Essential Elements of the Group Process)

Group Dynamics Midterms

ICEBREAKERS

·         Icebreakers are activities that get group members interacting and involved with one another in a safe, non-judgmental and non-threatening way.
·         In this activity the content is light, non-threatening and should not provoke defensiveness or anxiety. It also includes topics that members in this early stage of the group may enjoy sharing and talking about.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Icebreakers

Advantages:

·          They help to alleviate initial awkwardness and tension, creating a more relaxed and comfortable environment.

·          This is especially valuable when people are meeting for the first time or when there's a need to encourage open communication.

·          Icebreakers can prompt even introverted individuals to engage, ensuring everyone feels included and valued.

·          This can lead to more active participation in subsequent discussions or activities.

Disadvantages:

·          Especially in time-constrained settings, icebreakers can eat up valuable time that could be used for more pressing matters.

·          Some people, particularly introverts or those with social anxiety, may find icebreakers uncomfortable or even stressful.

·          Forcing participation can create a negative atmosphere.

ACTIVE LISTENING

·         Listening requires attention, focus and conscious processing of the information being heard. Hearing does not.

·                     Active listening is different from just listening or from passive listening, including all of the elements of passive listening and more. With active listening, the speaker feels and knows that he or she is being listened to by the verbal and non-verbal actions of the listener.

minimal encouragers

the counselor is encouraged to listen actively and to demonstrate active listening by using ·         eye direct and focused contact, appropriate nodding of the head, appropriate changes in body posture to mirror the client’s own posture, slight vocalizations such as “umm hmm,” and appropriate facial expressions.

DEFENSE MECHANISMS

·               are unconscious psychological strategies used to protect oneself from anxiety arising from unacceptable thoughts or feelings.

• are unconscious ways that the ego finds to protect itself.

ego

part of the conscious self that is protective of one’s sense of self- worth and self-esteem.

Denial:

Insistence that one has not done or said something or does not feel a certain way.

Rationalization

Advancing a reason for a behavior that appears plausible.

Reaction Formation

Acting in a way that is completely opposite to the way one really feels about a situation or toward someone.

Sublimation

o    Finding a socially acceptable way to express a socially unacceptable desire

Repression

Keeping from consciousness an unpleasant or disturbing experience.

Regression

Psychologically and/or emotionally returning to an earlier developmental stage.

GIVING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK

·         an indispensable process feature of most groups, especially counseling and therapy groups, sensitivity groups and support groups.

also helps to cut through defense mechanisms that may be getting in the way of personal growth and progress.

Open Self

Information about you that both you and others know

Hidden Self

Information about you that you know but others don’t know

Blind Self

Information about you that you know but others do know

Unknown self

Information about you that neither you or others know.

“Ideal Window.”

represents good balance between giving and receiving feedback. In this window the arena or open area is the largest window pane

• The ideal window is what individuals in groups should strive to achieve.

“interviewer” window

receives a great deal of information and feedback from others but shares very little and gives very little feedback.

• In this window the blind spot may be smaller because the individual gets much feedback but the arena is also very constricted and the façade or hidden area is large

“bull in a china shop”

individual shares a great deal of information and gives much feedback to others but invites and receives very little feedback.

• the blind spot is very large because the individual gets very little feedback and the arena is very constricted. The façade or hidden area may be relatively small

“Turtle”

does not share a great deal of information or gives much feedback to others and does not invite and receives very little feedback.

• blind subconscious or unknown is very large because the individual gets very little feedback and the arena is very constricted

Feedback

most effective when it is given in ways that help the recipient to process it, understand it and be able to use it.

Feedback should be:

o    focused on what a person does or says in a given situation and not on inferred motivations,

o    specific and concrete, addressing the when, where and how of the behavior or statement about which feedback is given,

o    given as soon as possible after the target behavior or statement,

o    informative about the impact of the target behavior or statement on the giver of the feedback, and

o    offered in a descriptive and non-judgmental way.

Catharsis

·         venting or expressing of feelings that an individual has been holding on to over a period of time. It usually occurs in therapeutic groups.

·         The release of repressed feelings through catharsis allows individual healing to occur.

feedback allow catharsis to occur

Transference

may transfer or displace feelings held for someone outside of the group to the leader of the group.

·         For example, a group member who is angry with his or her boss at work and who comes to the group with those feelings may direct that anger at the group leader who reminds him or her of the despised boss.

Parataxic distortion

When the transfer or displacement of feelings is directed at another member of the group as opposed to the leader of the group.

Counter transference

occur when a practitioner, such as a counselor or therapist, unconsciously projects or transfers unresolved feelings to a client.

RE-ENACTMENT

an individual group member to re-enact or replay family dynamics which may have had significant impact on the individual’s social and emotional development and condition