Order out of chaos: A structural analysis of group therapy.

Abstract

The structure of social interaction within four therapy groups was analyzed in terms of the conditional responding of the participants. Structure was measured in terms of the randomness and the patterning of the group members' interactions. It was proposed that groups' interactions would show increasing structure and decreasing randomness across sessions, reflecting a transition from "forming" and "storming" to "norming" and "performing." Within and across groups, no consistent pattern of therapy group development was found. Each group remained fairly unstructured across its group sessions. Group leader and group member dominance within the groups suggested that (a) the frequency with which group members spoke was inversely related to their actual or achieved dominance in the group and (b) the achieved dominance of the group leaders and the group members was fairly equal across groups and across sessions.

Chaos Theory and Counselor Training

“…This concept of self-organization is also consistent with the findings of Lichtenberg and Knox (1991), who analyzed the structure of social interaction within four therapy groups and proposed that the groups' interactions would show increasing structure across sessions. They found no consistent pattern of group development.…”

Group Chaos Theory: A Metaphor and Model for Group Work

“…Turbulence occurs in the context of complex interactions and relationships, changes in these interactions, and changes in the group and its members (see Wilbur et al, 1995aWilbur et al, , 1995b; that is, chaos theory deals with the relationship of parts to the whole. This idea is also consistent with the findings of Lichtenberg and Knox (1991), who analyzed the structure of social interaction within four therapy groups and proposed that the group's interactions would show increasing structure across sessions. They found no consistent pattern of group development (Lichtenberg & Knox, 1991).…”

“…This idea is also consistent with the findings of Lichtenberg and Knox (1991), who analyzed the structure of social interaction within four therapy groups and proposed that the group's interactions would show increasing structure across sessions. They found no consistent pattern of group development (Lichtenberg & Knox, 1991). Although these findings and ideas are incomplete, if the assumption holds true, as Chubb (1990) suggested, an interesting and possible implication may be that group workers can only influence the systemic group process by focusing on individual group members.…”

A Pilot Study in Marital Group Therapy: Process and Outcome

“…First, this model for group therapy, as well as other models found in the professional literature (e.g., Coche & Coche, 1990), were adapted from traditional group formats. Sells and Hays (1997) and Lichtenberg and Knox (1991) both questioned the theoretical stage models of groups in brief group experiences. Their conclusions would also apply to this brief group therapy model, with the difference that this intervention included a marital dimension.…”