How Psychologically Dangerous are T-Groups and Encounter Groups?

Abstract

A number of people involved in the field of group training have suggested that Sensitivity Training (or T-groups as they are commonly called in Europe) and Encounter Groups may be 'counter-productive', 'disrupt ongoing personality functions', and 'encourage inappropriate levels of intimacy which may destroy rewarding psychological relationships with other people' (Mann, 1970: Crawshaw, 1969). That is, that this form of training is potentially dangerous and may have psychologically disturbing consequences for participants. Until recently the claims and counter-claims with respect to this issue have consisted primarily of opinions and inference drawn from limited or circumscribed experience (i.e., 'I knew a person once who attended a T-group...' vs. 'In my many years of training T-groups and Encounter Groups, I have never known a single case of...') Some empirical research is now being conducted to evaluate in a more systematic and controlled way this important issue. The magnitude of the problem can be seen in the steadily increasing numbers of people attending such groups (Smith, 1971). The purpose of this article is to examine the available evidence in an effort to assess the current state of research and to encourage and focus future research work in this area.