Understanding Groups: Psychodynamic Theory Perspectivce

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Understanding Groups Psychodynamic Theory /
Perspectivce

• Lita D. Allen
• Lecturer, SW28A SW28B
• Theory and Practice of Social Work I II
• Module Social Group Work (Semester I, 2006/2007)
• Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social
  Work
• The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus

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Contrasting Perspectives Areas of Focus

• Insight vs Action
• Rational vs Affective
• Past vs Present / Future
• Individual vs Group
• Process vs Outcome
• Leader-centred vs Member-centred

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Psychodynamic TheoryAreas of Focus

• Insight vs Action
• Rational vs Affective
• Past vs Present / Future
• Individual vs Group
• Process vs Outcome
• Leader-centered vs Member-centered

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Psychodynamic TheoryView of human nature

• A deterministic view shaped by
• irrational and unconscious forces
• aggressive and sexual instincts
• repressed childhood conflicts

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Psychodynamic TheoryKey Concepts

• Conscious, pre-conscious, unconscious
• Personality structure id, ego, superego
• Anxiety
• Ego defence mechanisms
• Resistance the defence of the defence

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Psychodynamic TheoryKey Concepts

• Catharsis / Ventilation
• Insight and self-understanding
• Transference
• Countertransference

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Psychodynamic TheoryGroup Dynamics

• Human behaviour (individually and in groups)
• influenced (determined) by
• irrational and unconscious forces
• aggressive and sexual instincts
• repressed childhood conflicts (between id, ego
  and superego)
• We develop ego defences to control anxiety

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Psychodynamic TheoryDefence Mechanisms

• Denial
• Displacement
• Repression
• Regression
• Rationalization
• Reaction-formation

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Psychodynamic TheoryEgo defence mechanisms

• Projection
• Avoidance
• Intellectualization / Identification
• Fantasy
• Emotional Insulation
• Sublimation

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Psychodynamic TheoryAnxieties in a group

• Apprehension before joining
• Fear of participating in the group process
• Apprehension re leaving group
• Doubts about benefiting from group
• Fear of invasion of privacy
• Fear of giving up neurotic trends

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Psychodynamic TheoryAnxieties in a group

• Fear of meeting again ones original family in
  the group
• Anxiety about the freedom that a group offers,
  including the freedom to discuss anxiety
• Etc.

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Psychodynamic TheoryExamples of Resistances

• Arriving late or not showing up
• Intellectualizing
• Showing distrust
• Behaving uncooperatively
• Hiding behind a wall of silence or talking
  incessantly
• Lengthy life stories to avoid facing the present

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Psychodynamic TheoryExamples of Resistances

• Maintaining attitude of complacency or
  indifference
• Watch others and refuse to participate
• Analyze other group members
• Go blank when asked to free associate about
  other group members
• Exhibiting an exaggerated need to help others in
  the group
• Acting out behaviours
• Using the group for mere socializing

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Psychodynamic TheoryHow the individual functions

• Behaviours of individuals influenced by
• Distrust
• Anxieties
• Fears
• Insecurities
• Ego defences
• Resistance
• Prepared reactions

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Psychodynamic TheoryHow groups function

• Re-create the family of origin (symbolically)
• Provide context for observing defensive
  behaviours
• Give feedback for increasing self-awareness
• Enabling catharsis
• Dealing with anxieties and resistances
• Working through transference and
  countertransference
• Understanding the present through insight to past
  influences

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Psychodynamic TheoryHow the leader functions

• Projection of feelings unto leader / therapist
• Guide analysis and interpretation of the
  transference to influence insight and personality
  change.
• An enabler

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Psychodynamic TheoryTechniques

• Identify stage of growth
• Allow catharsis
• Free association via free floating discussion
• Dream work analysis
• Working through the past, resistances,
  transference, countertransference to achieve
  interpretation and insight
• Hypnosis

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Psychodynamic TheoryHow to deal with resistances

• Enlist cooperation of group members
• Address feelings and concerns
• Give feedback about current, observable
  behaviours
• Do not label or censure
• Resistance should first be acknowledged by the
  member

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Psychodynamic TheoryHow to deal with resistances

• Worker and member should agree to work together
  to work through the resistance
• Establish a clear understanding that both are
  working towards the same goal
• Contract for bringing other group members into
  the analysis of individual members resistances

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Psychodynamic TheoryWhat will enable behaviour
change?

• Working with a group that
• symbolizes the original family
• gives on target feedback
• commits to stay with the process
• has a leader who is trained in the techniques

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Psychodynamic TheoryGoal of the Analytic Group

• Restructuring of character and personality system
• Making unconscious conflicts conscious
• Provide context for symbolic re-enacting of
  family of origin via the group

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Psychodynamic TheoryAdvantages

• Increases self-awareness and self-understanding
• Provides a safe and non-threatening context for
  the analytic process
• Increases self-confidence and self-esteem by
  working through anxieties, defences and
  resistances.

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Psychodynamic TheoryDisadvantages/Limitations

• Length
• Cost
• Verbal vs non-verbal clients
• Crisis oriented situations
• How appropriate for the poor, oppressed and the
  disadvantaged
• Acceptance of concepts in relation to personal
  values and beliefs systems

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Psychodynamic Theory

• What are the implications for the
• practice of social group work within
• the Caribbean context?