This paper considers some of the similarities and differences between the theory of
living human systems and its systems-centred practice (Agazarian, 1997) and the
theory of basic assumptions in general and of incohesion: aggregation/massification
as a fourth basic assumption in particular (Hopper, 2003b). Part I of this paper
summarises each theory and how they guide clinical practice. Part II presents a
traumatogenic group event described retrospectively by group members, and discusses
this event from the two perspectives in the service of the clarification and
development of each.
Agazarian, Y.M.
(1994) `The Phases of Development and the Systems-Centred
Group', in
M. Pines
and
V. Schermer
(eds) Ring of Fire: Primitive Object Relations and Affect in Group
Psychotherapy. London :
Routledge, Chapman and Hall.
2.
Agazarian, Y.M.
(1997) Systems-centred Therapy for Groups.
New York: Guilford
Press.
3.
Agazarian, Y.M.
(1999)
`Phases of Development in the Systems-Centred Group'
, Small Group Research30(1):
82-107.
4.
Agazarian, Y.M.
(2003)
Book review. [Review of the book Traumatic Experience in the Unconscious
Life of Groups.]In Systems-Centred Training News11(1):
3-4.
5.
Agazarian, Y.M.
and
Gantt, S.P.
(2003)
`Phases of Group Development: Systems-centred Hypotheses and their
Implications for Research and Practice', Group Dynamics: Theory
, Research and Practice7(3):
238-52.
6.
Agazarian, Y.M.
and
Gantt, S.P.
(2004)
Working with Roles in Systems-centred Groups
, presented at the American Psychological Association Annual
Convention , Honolulu, August.
7.
Agazarian, Y.M.
and
Peters, R.
(1981) The Visible and Invisible Group.
London: Routledge and Kegan
Paul.
8.
Bennis, W.G.
and
Shephard, H.A.
(1956)
`A Theory of Group Development'
, Human Relations9(4):
415-37.
9.
Bion, W.R.
(1961) Experiences in groups.
London :
Tavistock.
10.
Bion, W.R.
(1963) Elements of Psycho-analysis.
London: William
Heinemann.
11.
Bowlby, J.
(1982) Attachment (2nd edition).
New York: Basic
Books.
12.
Gantt, S.P.
(2005)
`Functional Role-taking in Organizations and Work Groups'
, The Group Psychologist15(5):
15
.
13.
Heard, B.
and
Lake, D.
(1997) The Challenge of Attachment for Caregiving.
London: Routledge, Chapman and
Hall.
14.
Hopper, E.
(1975)
`Report on the Three Small Groups on the Theme ``Facilitating Professional
Change'''
, Group Analysis, 8 (1):
14-21.
15.
Hopper, E.
(2003a) The Social Unconscious: Selected papers.
London: Jessica Kingsley
Publishers.
16.
Hopper, E.
(2003b) Traumatic Experience in the Unconscious Life of
Groups. London: Jessica Kingsley
Publishers.
17.
Ladden, L.
,
Gantt, S.P.
,
Rude S.
and
Agazarian, Y.M.
(2007)
`Systems-Centred Therapy: A Protocol for Treating Generalized Anxiety
Disorder'
, Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy37(2):
61-70.
18.
Lawrence, W.G.
,
Bain, A.
and
Gould, L.J.
(1996) [2000] `The fifth basic assumption '.
Free Associations
: 6, 37, 28-55. Reprinted in
2000 in Tongued with Fire: Groups in Experience.
London: Karnac
Books (Original work published 1996).
19.
Lewin, K.
(1951) Field Theory in Social Science.
New York: Harper and
Row.
20.
McCluskey, U.
(2002)
`The Dynamics of Attachment and Systems-Centred Group Psychotherapy'
, Group Dynamics6: 131-42.
21.
Mead, G.H.
(1934) Mind, Self and Society. (Ed. by
C. W. Morris.
) Chicago: University of Chicago
Press.
22.
Miller, J.G.
(1978) Living Systems. New
York: McGraw-Hill.
23.
Minuchin, S.
(1974) Families and Family Therapy.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University
Press.
24.
Turquet, P.
(1975) Threats to identity in the large group. In
L. Kreeger
(ed) The Large Group: Dynamics and TherapyLondon: Constable .
Reprinted in 1994 in
London
by Karnac Books (Original work published 1975).
