This article investigates the relationship of group cohesiveness to empathy, self-disclosure, acceptance, and trust, and compares three different groups (personal growth groups, DUI groups, and psychotherapy groups) on measures of cohesiveness. Three hypotheses are tested, using 65 group members divided into the three subgroups. As hypothesized, personal growth groups showed a significantly higher level of cohesiveness. All factors examined correlated significantly with cohesiveness and with one another. Trust seemed to be an independent factor underlying the entire process.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Bartunek, J.M., & Keys, C.B. (1979). Participation in group decision making. Urban Education, 14(1), 52-75.
2.
Berck, P.L. (1979). Participation in neighborhood organizing activities: Identifying determinates and impacts. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dissertation Abstracts International, 40, (1-B), 15-18.
3.
Berg, R.C., & Landerth, C.L. (1979). Group counseling fundamental concepts and procedures. Fort Worth, TX: American Continental Publishing.
4.
Bunch, B.J., Lund, N.L., & Wiggins, F.K. (1983). Self-disclosure and perceived closeness in the development of group process. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 8(2), 59-66.
5.
Carkhuff, R.R. (1969a). Helping and human relations: A primer for law and professional helpers I. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
6.
Carkhuff, R.R. (1969b). Helping and human relations: A primer for law and professional helpers II. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
7.
Carkhuff, R.R. (1971). The development of human resources, educational, psychological and social change. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
8.
Carkhuff, R.R., & Berenson, B.C. (1967). Beyond counseling and therapy . New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
9.
Corey, G., & Corey, M. (1982). Groups: Process and practice (2nd ed.). Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole .
10.
Evans, N.J. (1984). The relationship of interpersonal attraction and attraction to group in a growth group setting. Journal for Specialists in a Group Work, 9(4),172-178
11.
Evans, N.J., & Jarvis, P.A. (1980). Group cohesion: A review and reevaluation. Small Group Behavior, 11(4), 149-165.
12.
Evensen, P.G., & Bednar, R.L. (1978). Effects of specific cognitive and behavioral structure on early group behavior and atmosphere. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 26, 66-75.
13.
Flower, J., Booraem, C., & Hartman, K. (1981). Client improvement in higher and lower intensity problems as a function of group cohesiveness. Psychology: Theory Research and Practice, 18, 246-251.
14.
Friedlander, M.L., Thibodeau, J., Nichols, M., Tucker, C., & Snyder, J. (1985). Introducing semantic cohesion analysis: A study of group talk. Small Group Behavior, 16(3), 285-302.
15.
Gibb, J. (1964). Climate for trust formation. In L. Bradford, J. Gibb, & K. Benne (Eds.), T-group theory and laboratory methods. New York: John Wiley.
16.
Gill, S.J., Menlo, A., & Keel, L. (1984). Antecedents to member participation within small groups: A review of theory and research. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 9(2), 68-76.
17.
Mullen, B., & Abeles, M. (1971). Relationship of liking, empathy, and therapist's experience to outcome of therapy. Journal of Counseling Psychology , 18, 39-43.
18.
Peteroy, E.T. (1983). Cohesiveness development in an ongoing therapy group: An exploratory study. Small Group Behavior, 14(2), 269-272.
19.
Ribner, N. (1974). Effects of explicit group contact on self-disclosure and group cohesiveness. Journal of Counseling Psychology , 21, 116-120.
20.
Roffers, T., & Waldo, M. (1983). Empathy and confrontation related to group counseling outcomes. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 21(3), 59-66.
21.
Rogers, C.R. (1970). Carl Rogers on entcounter groups. New York: Harper & Row.
22.
Stokes, J., Fueher, A., & Childs, L. (1983). Group members' self-disclosure in relation to perceived cohesion. Small Group Behavior, 14(1), 63-75.
23.
Truax, C.B. (1966). Therapist empathy, warmth and patient personality change in group psychotherapy: A comparison between interaction unit measure, time sample measures, and patient perception measures. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 22, 225-229.
24.
Truax, C.B., Carkhuff, R.R., & Kodman, F. (1965). The relationship between therapist offered conditions and patient change in group psychotherapy. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 21, 327-329.
25.
Yalom, I.D. (1985). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (2nd ed.). New York: Basic Books.