Addendum on Entropy to the Exploratory Study on Group Unconscious at the Basque Foundation for the Investigation of Mental Health Group Training for Therapists

Zapirain, Begona Trojaola; Carminati, F.; Torres, Miguel Ángel González; Mendivil, Ernesto Gonzalez de; Fouassier, Claire; Martin, François; Labarère, José; Demongeot, Jacques; Lorincz, Erika; Carminati, Giuliana Galli

doi:10.14704/nq.2015.13.1.780

Cited by 7 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…As explained in a previous paper of ours (Trojaola-Zapirain et al, 2015), according to Bion, the evolution of the group is governed both by what he calls universal "basic assumptions" and by the conflicts that are rooted in the contingent reality of each specific group (Bion, 1961;Vergopoulo, 1983;Foulkes, 1961). Bion identified three basic assumptions describing the underlying workings of human groups: dependency, fightflight, and pairing (Bion, 1961).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In two previous analyses (Trojaola-Zapirain et al, 2014;2015), we presented evidence of the effects of the group situation on the behavior of participants confronted with questions requiring them to choose between pictures arranged in pairs. In the present study, we extend these results by administering the same questionnaire to a group of caregivers for psychiatric patients during their training on the prevention and management of aggression in the hospital setting.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The first study (Trojaola-Zapirain et al, 2014) was performed during group-analysis training for group therapists at the Basque Foundation for the Investigation of Mental Health (OMIE) in Bilbao, Spain. The second study (Trojaola-Zapirain et al, 2015) was conducted during the Preventive Approach and Controlled Intervention (APIC) training for the management of aggression for psychiatric caregivers, in Geneva, Switzerland.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We recall here what we wrote in (Trojaola-Zapirain et al, 2015) about this subject. The concept of entropy, originally a thermodynamic construct, has been adopted by other fields of study, including information theory, psychodynamics, thermoand ecological economics, and evolution (Balian, 2004;Brooks & Whiley, 1988;Avery, 2003;Yockey, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In our previous study on entropy in a group-analysis training program Trojaola-Zapirain et al, 2015), we discussed the role of entropy in group dynamics. Considering that entropy links the concepts of order and information, we could think of it in psychodynamic terms as the expression of a fundamental archetype, which otherwise has been interpreted as Chaos and Cosmos, Eros and Thanatos, and so on.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Comparison of the Evolution and Entropy of Responses to Picture Choices on an “Absurdum Questionnaire” between Members of Two Different Training Groups

Zapirain

Carminati

Torres³

et al. 2016

Neuroquantology

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The results of previous studies on a group-training program for group therapists supported the influence of group dynamics on the members' individual choices of pictures presented to them in an "absurdum questionnaire." The present analysis compared the responses obtained from previous studies with those from a group of psychiatric caregivers training to prevent and manage aggression of hospitalized patients. The evolution of the number and entropy of the responses to the picture choices were compared. The group analysis program was conducted at the Basque Foundation for the Investigation of Mental Health in Bilbao, Spain. The Preventive Approach and Controlled Intervention program for the prevention and management of aggression was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Data were collected from the participants in the group-analysis program during their 11 sessions of training and from those in the aggression prevention and management program during three days of a series of four-day courses. The participants were presented with an "absurdum questionnaire" containing 50 pairs of images, and were asked to choose one image from each pair. The evolution of the number of answers was not significantly different between the two training groups. The evolution of entropy revealed a clear difference with a gradual increase in the group-analysis program, and a decrease in the aggression-management training group. We interpret this difference in light of Bion's view of group dynamics, with the group-analysis training being driven by Bion's basic assumptions and the aggression-management training by Bion's work group.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Comparison of the Evolution and Entropy of Responses to Picture Choices on an “Absurdum Questionnaire” between Members of Two Different Training Groups

Zapirain

Carminati

Torres³

et al. 2016

Neuroquantology

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An Update and Generalization of Group Unconscious Orientation in OMIE1 Group Training for Therapists

Zapirain¹,

Carminati

Rivas

et al. 2019

Neuroquantology

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Introduction: this paper presents an update of a previous study we conducted to explore the presence and behavior of a common orientation among the participants to a group training for therapists via their answers to an "absurd questionnaire". Having measured a second class of trainees during their training, we are able to compare the results with those obtained by the first measurement.Methods: as in the previous study, during the training we have submitted to the trainees 11 questionnaires composed of 50 pairs of images asking them to choose one image from each pair. We have then analyzed their initial picture choices and how they evolved over time. We also present the analysis of the combined data of both experiments. Results:In both experiments we found statistical evidence that both the initial choices of the pictures and their evolution during the training are not simply governed by randomness. The initial picture choice in each pair is highly skewed toward one of the two pictures, and there is a statistically significant change in the picture choice in the first part of the training in both experiments. Conclusions:The results could be interpreted as a manifestation of group dynamics postulated by Bion with his "basic assumptions". We see patterns that suggest an initial "honey moon" (dependence from the leader) followed by a "fight-flight" attitude (frustrated dependence from the leader) and finally a "mourning" of the group and of the training experience. In spite of some statistically significant differences between the two experiment, the behavior is largely compatible. Bion himself used to say that "as you never bath yourself twice in the same river, you never enter twice the same group", being every human assembly unique and singular.

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2020

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Introduction:The objective of the study is to explore the presence and the evolution of a common orientation among the participants to two closed groups participating in a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training. One group is composed by adolescents and the other by some of their parents. The evolution was assessed via their answers to the "absurd questionnaire" and we will analyze the results in the light of the previous experiments we have conducted. Methods: The "absurd questionnaires", composed of 50 pairs of images was administered to the participants who were asked to choose one image from each pair. In this experiment we were able to submit to the participants a version of the questionnaire before the groups were formed. We have analyzed their initial picture choices and how these evolved over time considering the changes in the choices, the differences in the two groups of participants, the flux and the focus of the answers. Results: In both groups we found statistical evidence that both the initial choices of the pictures and their evolution during the training are not simply governed by randomness. The initial picture choice in each pair is highly skewed toward one of the two pictures, and there is a statistically significant change in the picture choice in the first part of the training in both groups. The evolution of the picture's choice is compared in the two groups. Conclusions:The results show that the answers to the questions are strongly polarized before the groups convene, and this reveals an initial socio-cultural bias. The group environment causes a relaxing of this initial strong bias and a subsequent recovery. This could indicate the formation of a "groupal continuum", coming from the entanglement of individuals psyches toward the formation of a groupal unity having its own identity. The adolescents seem to fear this loss of individuality and they tend to abandon the group. The parents, on the contrary, are more constant in the participation to their group, a sign that they are perhaps less exposed to incomplete individuation and clanic loyalties typical of a younger age.

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Addendum on Entropy to the Exploratory Study on Group Unconscious at the Basque Foundation for the Investigation of Mental Health Group Training for Therapists

Cited by 7 publications

References 23 publications

A Comparison of the Evolution and Entropy of Responses to Picture Choices on an “Absurdum Questionnaire” between Members of Two Different Training Groups

A Comparison of the Evolution and Entropy of Responses to Picture Choices on an “Absurdum Questionnaire” between Members of Two Different Training Groups

An Update and Generalization of Group Unconscious Orientation in OMIE1 Group Training for Therapists

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