A New Perspective in Group Analysis

Abstract

Traditionally, the therapeutic group has been regarded from the standpoint of psychoanalysis and social psychology. Without leaving aside this fruitful perspective, I propose considering the group from the point of view of Jungian psychology and cultural anthropology. 7his means assigning further value to S.H. Foulkes's Primordial Level — the level where manifestations of collective unconscious appear — and incorporating Victor Turner's concepts on rituals, especially that of `communitas'. This new perspective favours useful regression in the group and the use of techniques to facilitate its appearance.