Cohesion continues to remain a popular concept among group therapists and leaders of experientially based learning groups despite persistent confusion about its meaning. The present study provided an empirical basis for clarification of the concept of cohesion. Forty-five participants from nine experientially based learning groups provided self-report and behavioral data concerning a number of aspects of cohesion. Factor analyses of the self-report data generated three sets of factors that dealt with the participant's perception of the other participants, the leader, and the group as a whole. One of the factors concerned the participant's commitment to the group. It was significantly related to remaining in the group and physical distance to others but not to perceptions of learning. It was regarded as a good representation of cohesion as defined as a basic bond or uniting force in a group. The advantages of restricting oneself to a circumscribed definition of cohesion were emphasized as well as maintaining distinctions between cohesion and other concepts.
The psychological impact of ultrasound examination on expectant parents is assessed through direct observation, interviews and the administration of a questionnaire to a large group of parents. The examination was a positive and reassuring experience for most parents. Among a wide array of variables that could account for the effects of the exam, the results were the most important. Women viewing their first ultrasound, specially primiparae were more moved. The results did not confirm that there is a traumatic effect when viewing precedes quickening. Contrary to previous reports, fathers were as emotionally involved as the mothers. The presence of the father seemed also to have a beneficial effect on the mother. One-half of parents wanted to know the sex of the fetus before birth. These findings are discussed, along with implications for problems arising from introduction of new technologies during pregnancy.
Thirty-seven offspring from 21 families with a manic-depressive parent were studied 3 to 7 years following initial evaluation. The study examined both pedigree information and psychosocial variables including parental, marital and overall adjustment, measures of chronicity and severity of parental illness and family assessment measures in relationship to offspring functioning. Nine of the 37 offspring (24%) received a positive DSM-III diagnosis, which is a similar percentage of positive diagnosis of children as we found previously. The diagnoses clustered in the affective illness spectrum. When the presence of affective traits was considered, there was evidence for continuity of psychopathology in most cases. Associations between offspring psychopathology and both non-specific and specific parental risk factors are discussed.
This study experimentally varies conditions relating to the people with whom participants interacted prior to beginning a small learning group experience. Three conditions were estabhshed: participant-bonded, leader-bonded, and other-bonded. Rates of attending and remaining varied according to with whom participants interacted prior to the onset of the group; the best record was achieved in the participant-bonded condition. The lowest rates of attending and remaining were obtained m the leader-bonded condition. For the purpose of retaining members early in the life of a group, preliminary leader-member interactions are judged to be relatively ineffective. The conditions examined were found to be unrelated to evaluations of participant learning. Perceived personal compatibility that arises from prehminary peer interactions may help a group retain membership, but does not necessarily assure learmng or therapeutic change.
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