Acts of Turning as Stress-Resolving Mechanisms in Work Groups (With Special Reference to the Work of W. R. Bion)

Abstract

This study tested a theory based in Bion's work and developed to explain group members' acts of turning to individuals, group norms, and traditions, as if, in so doing, to move the group to operate in some specific mode or condition. A group operating in the condition of basic assumption culture activity is postulated to give rise to a state of stress, since in that condition, the work expectations of group members are confronted with group activity that does not allow work. Conjectures derived from the theory of acts of turning as stress-resolving mechanisms specified the kind of agency to which an individual intending a certain group activity would turn, given a basic assumption culture as the group condition. Tests of hypotheses corroborated the conjectures. Further theory development is warranted to explain those acts in which the agency turned to was inconsistent with the group activity intended.

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