Difference between a primary and secondary Group
Primary Group: characterized by an informal structure and social process. Membership is automatic (as in a family) or voluntarily due to common interest (ex: a club or religion). Important in self concepts/descriptions.
• Secondary groups: have a planned, time-limited association, a prescribed structure, and designated leader, a specific and identifiable purpose. When goal achieved, group is disbanded. (Focus groups, therapy groups, discipline-specific work groups, interdisciplinary health care teams, and educational groups).
Yalom described curative changes in groups
What are they?
*What are group dynamics?
What is functional similarity
“choosing group members who have enough common intellectually, emotionally, and experientially to interact with each other in a meaningful way
What is a group norm?
behavioural rules of conduct expected from group members
What are universal Norms?
stated behavioural standards that must be present in all groups for effective outcomes (ex: confidentiality, regular attendance)
What are Group specific norms?
evolve from the group itself in the storming phase. Represent shared beliefs, values, and operational rules (ex: tolerance for latecomers, use of humour, talking to rather than about members)
What are group roles?
Two constructive role functions?
Benne and sheats
Task Functions:
behaviours used to move toward goal achievement
Maintenance Functions:
behaviours designed to ensure personal satisfaction
Non constructive roles?
Self Roles:
roles that create distraction or discomfort; meet self-needs at the expense of other members’ needs, groups values and goal achievement
aggressor, blocker, joker, avoider, self-confessor, recognition
(See Table 12.2 for definitions)
Task functions?
CCSSI
Initiating: identifies goal Suggests strategies
Seeking information: requests facts Giving information: offers facts, useful
information
Clarifying: interprets ideas, paraphrases, adds information
Summarzing: pulls ideas together, restates, offers suggestions
Consensus Taking: checks to see if group has reached a conclusion
Maintenance functions?
Maintenance Functions
Harmonizing: attempts to reconcile disagreements
Gatekeeping: keeps channels open, points out commonalities in ideas
Encouraging: shows acceptance of others; is warm, friendly, responsive
Compromising: admits mistakes; offers concessions
Setting standards: calls for group to reassess or confirm groups norms when necessary
Tuckman’s (1965, 1977) Five Phases
Forming
Storming
Norming
Preforming
Adjourning
Important factors of therapeutic groups
Group Cohesion
What is a therapeutic group?
applies to group relationships, refers to more than treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders. Offers a structured format that encourages a person to experience his or her natural healing potential.
Therapy groups are designed to remediate or correct behavioral disorders and issues that limit a person’s potential in personal and work relationships
*What is monopolizing?
Homogeneous groups:
vs
Heterogeneous groups:
Homogeneous groups:
-share common characteristics
-share a common personal attribute (ex: gender, age)
-ex: breast cancer support group, AA or similar group, gender- specific consciousness-raising group, eating disorder group, educational groups related to diagnosis or specific learning needs
Heterogeneous groups:
-represent a wider diversity of human experiences and problems -members vary in age, gender, psychodynamics
-ex: most psychotherapy and insight-oriented personal growth groups
Types of therapeutic groups
*advantage of long term settings
Offer oportunities for socially isolated individuals to engage with others
ex: reminiscence groups, reality orientation groups, resocialization groups, re- motivation groups (p. 235-237)
*Advantage of self help and support groups
Offer emotional and practical support to clients and families; usually held in the community with informal leadership by members
ex: chronic illness (diabetes, COPD, mental health, cardiac, dementia), crises, ill health (cancer, palliative support)