Would Groups Do Better without Social Psychologists? A Response to Buys

Abstract

Social psychological research on peer group experi- ence, as summarized and interpreted by Buys (1978), appears to show that such groups have a consistently negative effect on their members. This apparent conclusion reflects a significant bias of social psychologists in general and of Buys in particular. It ignores significant data in support of positive group functions as well as accepting a negative interpretation of group functioning without adequate experimental support. The authors suggest that social psychologists reorient their work in the direction of examining potentially positive functions of group experience. Emphasis is placed on the value of Sullivan's interpersonal theory in considering productive aspects of peer groups.