Growth Groups and Alienation: A Comparative Study of Rogerian Encounter,Self-Directed Encounter,and Gestalt

Abstract

Recent group approaches have evolved in response to increasing inter personal alienation in our society. Symbolic interaction theory suggests that the antidote to alienation is development of a sense of self through experiences in intensive small groups. This theory, and research on growth-group approaches, indicate that empathic member-to-member processes in the group decrease feelings of alienation and increase sense of autonomy for members. This research compares short-term variants of three such approaches-Rogerian encounter, Gestalt sensory awareness, and self-directed encounter-in relation to intermember empathy and cohesiveness and outcomes of decreased feelings of alienation and in creased sense of self-autonomy. The "Solomon four-group experimental design" was used. All growth-group experiences significantly decreased feelings of alienation and increased sense of self-autonomy. The order of efficacy on outcomes was (1) self-directed encounter, (2) Rogerian en counter, and (3) Gestalt sensory awareness. Increases in intermember empathy, feelings of being understood by group members, and cohesive ness were found in the same order. The differences in approaches are thought to be in their focus upon member-to-member interaction and the influence of this focus on members' feelings of being understood and the group's cohesiveness as experienced by members. Among the implica tions for practice are the need to respect the natural curative factors of the intensive small-group experience; the need to focus on member-to- member interaction; the need to gather feedback about important process variables during group facilitation; the need to make legitimate human relations training per se in the helping professions' work with groups; and the need to consider further symbolic interaction theory as a guide to group research and practice.