Transition Stage: Characteristics n Anxiety – Within individuals – Within group itself

Transition Stage: Characteristics (cont.) n Defensiveness and resistance – Resistance: behavior that keeps one or others from exploring personal problems or painful feelings; inevitable n Fear of making a fool of oneself n Fear of rejection or of emptiness n Fear of losing control n Fear of self disclosure

Transition Stage: Characteristics (cont.) n Struggle for control – Competition and rivalry – Challenge the leader – Ignore here-and-now problem; leads to hidden agenda

Transition Stage: Characteristics (cont.) n Conflict – Conflict is inevitable – Avoidance makes it destructive – Cohesion increases after conflict is recognized / expressed

Transition Stage: Characteristics (cont.) n Confrontation – Form of corrective feedback: how affected by others – Timing and cultural sensitivity important – More cohesive group n Challenges to group leader – Mutual responsibility for productive group – Respond openly and avoid becoming defensive

Transition Stage: Characteristics (cont.) n Leaders of reaction to resistance – Model direct style – Deal with own feelings – Expose your reactions – Emphasis on behaviors not labels

Transition Stage: Problem Behaviors n Silence and lack of participation n Monopolostic behavior n Story telling n Questioning n Giving advice n Band-aiding n Hostile behavior

Transition Stage: Problem Behaviors (cont.) n Dependency n Acting superior n Socializing n Intellectualizing n Emotionalizing

Transition Stage Summary: Stage Characteristics n Members concerned about what they will think of themselves if they increase their self-awareness n Members concerned about others’ acceptance or rejection of them n Members test the leader and other members to determine how safe the environment is

Transition Stage Summary: Stage Characteristics (cont.) n Members struggle between playing it safe and risking getting involved n Members experience some struggle for control and power and some conflict with other members or the leader n Members observe the leader to determine trustworthiness

Transition Stage Summary: Stage Characteristics (cont.) n Members learning how to express themselves so that others will listen to them

Transition Stage Summary: Member Functions & Tasks n Recognize and express negative feelings n Respecting one’s own resistances but working with them n Moving from dependence to independence n Learning how to confront others constructively

Transition Stage Summary: Member Functions (cont.) n Being willing to face / deal with reactions toward what is occurring in the group n Willing to work through conflicts; not avoid

Transition Stage Summary: Member Possible Problems n Categorized according to “problem types” or may limit themselves with self- imposed label n Refuse to express persistent negative feelings, contributing to climate of distrust

Transition Stage Summary: Member Possible Problems (cont.) n If confrontations are poorly handled, members may retreat into defensive postures and issues will remain hidden n Form subgroups and cliques, expressing negative reactions outside the group but remaining silent in the group

Transition Stage Summary: Leader Functions & Tasks n Teaching members value of recognizing and dealing with conflict situations n Assisting members to recognize their own patterns of defensiveness n Teaching members to respect resistance and work constructively with many forms it takes

Transition Stage Summary: Leader Functions (cont.) n Providing a model for members by dealing directly and tactfully with any challenges, either personal or professional n Avoiding labeling members but learning how to understand certain problem behaviors

Transition Stage Summary: Leader Functions (cont.) n Assisting members to become autonomous and independent n Encouraging members to express reactions that pertain to here-and-now happenings in the sessions