Structured group interaction, through an emphasis on pre-group structuring, didactic presentations, experiential learning, and evaluation, provides a flexible approach to achieving a variety of goals while compensating for many of the problem characteristics of an aged institutionalized population. Structured groups are characterized by adherence to a rigorous intervention planning methodology, with a high degree of pre-planned group structure, explicit behaviorally stated performance goals, and a concern for transferring group behavior to everyday settings. After a consideration of literature support and some of the limitations and hazards involved in the approach, it is concluded that structured groups represent a useful tool for the applied gerontologist.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
LindenM., Group Psychotherapy With Institutionalized Senile Women, International Journal of Psychotherapy, 3, pp. 150–170, 1953.
2.
SilverA., Group Psychotherapy With Senile Psychiatric Patients, Geriatrics, 5, pp. 147–150, 1950.
3.
BergerM. and BergerL., Psychogeriatric Group Approaches, In: SagerC. and KaplanH. (eds.), Progress in Group and Family Therapy, Brunner Mazel, New York, 1972.
4.
BurnsideI., Group Work With the Aged: Selected Literature, Gerontologist, 10:3, pp. 241–246, 1970.
5.
KleinW.LeShanE., and FurmanS., Promoting Mental Health of Older People Through Group Methods: A Practical Guide, Mental Health Materials Center, New York, 1965.
6.
GoldsteinA. P.HellerK., and SechrestL. B., Psychotherapy and the Psychology of Behavior Change, Wiley & Sons, New York, 1966.
7.
YalomI. and LiebermanM., A Study of Encounter Group Casualties, In: SagerC. and KaplanH. (eds.), Progress in Group and Family Therapy, Brunner Mazel Publishers, New York, 1972.
8.
RosenG. M., The Development and Use of Nonprescription Behavior Therapies, The American Psychologist, 31:2, pp. 139–141, 1976.
9.
CarkhuffR., Helping and Human Relations. Vol. I & II, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, 1969ab.
10.
DanishS. and ZelenskiJ., Structured Group Interaction, Journal of College Student Personnel, pp. 53–56, January 1972.
11.
DanishS. and HauerA., Helping Skills: A Basic Training Program, Behavioral Publications, New York, 1973.
12.
IveyA., Microcounseling: Innovations in Interview Training, C. Thomas, Springfield, 1971.
13.
BanduraA., Social Learning Theory of Identificatory Processes, In: GoslinD. (ed.), Handbook of Socialization Theory and Research, Rand McNally, Chicago, pp. 213–262, 1969.
14.
GuerneyB.StollakG., and GuerneyL., The Practicing Psychologist as Educator: An Alternative to the Medical Practitioner Model, Professional Psychology, 2:3, pp. 276–282, 1971.
15.
WhitingH., Acquiring Ball Skills, Lee & Feberger, Philadelphia, 1969.
16.
IveyA. and GlucksternN., Basic Attending Skills, Center for Human Relations, University of Massachusetts, Copyright1974.
17.
GagneR., Conditions of Learning, Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, 1970.
18.
BednarR.MelnickJ. and KaulT., Risk, Responsibility, and Structure: A Conceptual Framework for Initiating Group Counseling and Psychotherapy, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 21: 1, pp. 31–37, 1974.
19.
NTL, Ten Exercises for Trainers, Institute for Applied Behavioral Science, Washington, D. C., 1969.
20.
BaltesP. and SchaieW. K., Aging and IQ: The Myth of the Twilight Year, Psychology Today, 7: 10, pp. 35–39, 1974.
21.
ArenbergD., Cognition and Aging: Verbal Learning, Memory, Problem Solving, and Aging, In: EisdorferC. and LawtonM. P. (eds.), Psychology of Adult Development and Aging, APA, Washington, 1973.
22.
JarvikC. and CohenD., A Biobehavioral Approach to Intellectual Changes With Aging, In: EisdorferC. and LawtonM. P. (eds.), Psychology of Adult Development and Aging, APA, Washington, 1973.
23.
WelfordA., Psychomotor Performance, In: BirrenJ. (ed.), Handbook of Aging and the Individual, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1959.
24.
BotwinickJ., Geropsychology, Annual Review of Psychology, 21, pp. 239–272, 1970.
25.
BaltesP. and GouletC., Status and Issues of a Life-Span Developmental Psychology, In: GouletC. and BaltesP. (eds.), Life-span Developmental Psychology: Research and Theory, Academic Press, New York, 1970.
26.
HoyerW.LabouvieG. and BaltesP., Modification of Response Speed Deficits and Intellectual Performance in the Elderly, Human Development, 16, pp. 233–242, 1973.
27.
KayH., Theories of Learning and Aging, In: BirrenJ. (ed.), Handbook of Aging and the Individual, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1959.
28.
LooftW., Egocentrism and Social Interaction Across the Life Span, Psychological Bulletin, 78:2, pp. 73–92, 1972.
29.
EisdorferC., Verbal Learning and Response Time in the Aged, Journal of Genetic Psychology, 107, pp. 15–22, 1965.
30.
NeugartenB., Personality Change in Late Life: A Developmental Perspective, In: EisdorferC. and LawtonM. P. (eds.), Psychology of Adult Development and Aging, APA, Washington, 1973.
31.
BednarR. and LawlisG., Empirical Research in Group Psychotherapy, In: BerginA. and GarfieldS. (eds.), Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change: An Empirical Analysis, Wiley, New York, 1971.
32.
LooftW., Reflections on Intervention in Old Age: Motives, Goals and Assumptions, Gerontologist, 13, pp. 6–10, 1973.
33.
MuellerJ., Resocialization of Regressed Elderly Residents, Journal of Gerontology, 27, pp. 390–392, 1972.
34.
ReichenfeldH.CsapoK.CarrierL., and GardnerR., Evaluating the Effect of Activity Programs on a Geriatric Ward, Gerontologist, 13:3, pp. 305–310, 1973.
35.
FolsomJ., Reality Orientation for the Elderly Mental Patients, Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 1, pp. 291–307, 1968.
36.
LongR., Remotivation—Fact or Artifact, APA, Washington, 1972.
37.
RobinsonA., Remotivation Technique: A Manual for Use in Nursing Homes, American Psychiatric Association, Washington, D.C.
38.
HoffmanS., A Communication Skills Training Program for the Institutionalized Elderly: Implementation and Evaluation, Master's Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University, in process.
39.
LagoD. and HoffmanS., Increasing Nursing Home Residents' Interaction: An Application of Structured Group Interaction Techniques, A paper presented at the 82nd Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, August 30 – September 3, 1974.
40.
LowenthalM. and BerkmanP., Aging and Mental Disorder in San Francisco: A Social Psychiatric Study, Jossey Bass, San Francisco, 1967.
41.
SuchmanE., Evaluative Research, Russell Sage, New York, 1967.
42.
GibbJ., The Effects of Human Relations Training, In: BerginA. and GarfieldS. (eds.), Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change: An Empirical Analysis, Wiley, New York, 1971.
43.
GormallyJ. and HillC., Guidelines for Research on Carkhuff's Training Model, Journal of Counseling Psychology, 21:6, pp. 539–547, 1974.
