1. ABC of Group Psychology Turid Suzanne Berg-Nielsen, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Psychology NTNU,

2. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU EiT’s goals for learning Understanding of ones own competencies and how these may contribute to a group Ability to cooperate in solving interdisciplinary tasks Awareness of ones behavior and how it affects a group Awareness of how ones behavior is affected by a group

3. What is a group? 1.Two or more individuals who are interacting 2.and depend on each other

4. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Group cohesion a common ”we” some fundamental common interests or goals a minimum of mutual trust

5. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Any well functioning group may contribute to increased selfunderstanding and thus facilitate psychological maturity only by the willingess of its members to mutually expose themselves and feedback each other’s interactions

6. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU How to assemble a group? Heterogeneous groups need some time participants may represent a corrective to each other Homogenous groups facilitate mutual identification more cohesion less conflict more supportive

7. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU characteristic group decisions homogenous groups may develop more extreme positions and attitudes than each individual individuals may hold back their objections so not to threaten cohesion a lack of inner corrective may lead to erroneous decisions heterogeneous groups as a compromise groups may become more careful in their statements than each individual

8. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Characteristic, but unfortunate group behavior Passivity (the bystander-effect) ”social loafing” = reduced effectivity because individual contributions apparently doesn’t matter Dilution of responsibility

9. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Other forms of characteristic group behavior (– or immature ways of handling insecurity) dependency fight/flight pairing projection (Wilfred Bion, 1961)

10. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Resistance in groups silence withdrawal absence preoccupation with others to avoid exposure of oneself monopolize defocusing preoccupation with irrelevant matters blind competition subgroups finding scapegoats

11. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU What may impede productivity in a group? Lack of open communication between group members ”social loafing” Suppressed disagreement among group members Lack of will to compromise

12. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Persons who do not function well in groups intense rivalry acting out controlling social anxiety very low self esteem

13. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU What to do when progress in a group comes to a halt? Start with here and now! Talk about how the group is functioning together How group members are interacting What can be changed and how Everybody should say something

14. Developmental stages in groups

15. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Orientation stage dependency on leader the group members are typically are hesitant, fence-sitting & careful preoccupied with rules, goals and purpose of the group ok with breaking the ice activities

16. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Disagreement stage less preoccupied with getting acceptance from others irritation with others rivalry & issues of dominance discontent with facililtator

17. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Cohesive stage consensus on norms for the group increased security and confidence more personal exposure more spontaneous support and mutual encouragement authority conflicts resolved more self-reflection, openness and willingness to dwell on and feedback each other about interpersonal functioning

18. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Tuckmans (1965/77) 5 developmental group stages Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning

19. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Conflict management (Chiriac & Hempel, 2005) What is the problem? Why has it become a problem? For whom is it a problem? Possible solutions? When to ask for external help?

20. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU Prerequisites for successfull conflict management Change of attitude towards increased empathy among participants involved in the conflict Courage to cut through when conflict is persistent, destructive and unreasonably time- consuming

21. TS Berg-Nielsen, 21/2-07, NTNU What can you learn from a group? Mutuality Universality Togetherness Openness Model-learning Give and receive feedback Self-acceptance through support of others Awareness of own behavior and how it affects others Awareness og how a group affects own behavior