A Group Therapist Reflects on Violence in America

Abstract

In this paper, the author draws on his experience as a group therapist, noting parallels between the often intense but well contained dynamics of therapy groups and what they can tell us about violence in America. He examines the tension between bearing and understanding feelings and the desire to act on them, sometimes destructively in therapy groups and in society. He notes the omnipresent desire to find scapegoats rather than bear our own discomforts and notes the same in the abuse through which those in power scapegoat those under their control. Using the ideas of Roche, Volkan, and others, he also notes that current violence emerges from threats to individual or group identities often embedded in unfinished crises in the past, whether in a therapy group or in American society. Unresolved racial tensions reaching into the past is one outstanding example. He concludes noting the important role of reparation and forgiveness in therapy groups and society to slow the forward movement of violence.

Commentary on “Toward Understanding and Treating Violence in America: Some Contributions From Group Dynamic and Group Therapy Perspectives”

“…Rice (2015) reminds us that violent behavior is sometimes necessary to ensure survival. Lothstein (2015) adds that research from neuroscience tells us that the evolutionary brain structures such as the limbic system and other deep brain structures hardwire human beings to respond adaptively with aggression, especially when necessary for survival.…”

“…I will focus on the psychological aspects of our struggles with violence, especially those related to group life, but before I do, I want to note some facts stated by Schermer in their introductions (2015a, 2015b), as well as by Rice (2015), that are startling and support the characterization of us as violent: the focus on violence in American culture has recently intensified because of a number of mass tragedies, but actually these events only account for 0.13% of all homicides in the U.S.! Another astounding fact is that it is estimated that there are more firearms in the U.S. than people, excluding those owned by the military!…”

“…An alternative coping mechanism is repair, a process including reflection, verbalization, taking ownership of the disowned parts of ourselves, and mourning the accompanying losses. Rice (2015) suggests that we build memorials rather than continue wars. So what do these authors have to say about addressing the role of narcissistic injury and finding alternative ways of coping?…”

“…Schermer has formulated a concept he has named the "penumbra group," a designation meant to include all those whose lives interact with, and are impacted by, the psychotherapy group members. Rice (2015) emphasizes how well psychotherapy groups can provide safe containers where words rather than actions can be encouraged and reflection promoted. One is reminded of a statement by Volkan (2009) that if people talk, they do not kill.…”

Commentary on “Toward Understanding and Treating Violence in America: Some Contributions From Group Dynamic and Group Therapy Perspectives”

“…While concepts such as "incohesion," cited by Rice (2015), help us better understand what we are currently facing, what group psychotherapists may be called to consider is a greater degree of complexity in how we approach our work. Probably the rapidly evolving nature of global convergence means that we can no longer operate from a stance entirely within our national boundaries.…”