The Visible and Invisible Group

by Yvonne M. Agazarian

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780429922725
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/17/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

M. Agazarian, Yvonne

Table of Contents

Introduction -- Two sets of laws -- Group theory Yvonne Agazarian with Richard Peters -- The visible and invisible group -- The theory of the invisible group -- The constructs of group dynamics as they apply to the visible and invisible group -- The phases of group development -- Three levels of group process -- Group practice Richard Peters with Yvonne Agazarian -- Interviewing and preparing a patient for group psychotherapy -- Specific problems -- Transference and counter-transference -- The co-therapy issue -- Phases of group development -- The force field