THE CONCEPTS OF GROUP DYNAMICS

The Concepts of Group Dynamics



The Concepts of Group Dynamics

Introduction

The collection of intra-social-psychological processes and phenomena that characterize the entire life cycle of a small group and its stages i.e. the formation, operation, development, stagnation, regression, and decay. In other words, it is the teaching about forces, structures and processes that operate in a group. The Group is regarded as a community of people characterized by a limited number of members usually up to 20 people with the interdependence of direct contact upon each other, roles and positions, sharing of common goals, values and norms (Grint, 1997). The term Group Dynamics is used to: 1) indicate the direction in the study of small groups based on the principles of Gestalt psychology. 2) characterize the processes occurring in the group as it evolves and changes. 3) describe the causal relations that explain this phenomena. 4) denote the set of techniques used in the study of social attitudes and interpersonal relationships within the group. The term GD (Group Dynamics) is related to at least three psychological disciplines. The first one is social psychology of GD (an area of research). Its subject is the individual (the influence of his feelings, behavior, cognitive processes), the group itself (its influence as a transcending-individual unity on the individual and the other groups), as well as the interaction and relationships among group members, groups and other organizations/institutions. The second one is the set of techniques that are used for both educational and socio-psychological research. In this case, students are both participants and observers, and researchers of the group process as well. The learning process occurs not only in the cognitive plane, but also in the form of intense personal experience. In this regard, GD is included in educational psychology. The third one falls under the field of clinical psychology, which involves the theory and techniques aimed at changing interpersonal relationships within the group. To refer the teachings and clinical aspects of group dynamics, the term "GD” is used. The first studies of GD were initiated by Levin in 1944 (Gibb, Benn, & K. D., 1964). In psychotherapy, GD provides a scientific basis for psychotherapeutic process in the group, since the treatment in groups involves a group phenomena. In this perspective, the specificity of group psychotherapy as an independent method is the purposeful use of GD in the medical and psychotherapeutic purposes. In relation to group psychotherapy, GD is treated as a set of relationships and interactions between group members, including group psychotherapy. Kratohvil defines GD as a set of group actions and interactions that characterize the development, or movement of the time, which is the result of relationships and interactions of group members, their activities, and influence of the external environment upon them (Brown, 1988).

Discussion: Body and Analysis

Hock considers the GD as a process of forming, structuring, development and functioning of the group, which becomes important for psychotherapy. The characteristics of GD include: the aims and objectives of the group, group standards, ...