The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom & Molyn Leszcz

Author:Irvin D. Yalom & Molyn Leszcz [Yalom, Irvin D. & Leszcz, Molyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Psychology, General, Psychotherapy, Group
ISBN: 9780465084487
Google: nwspX1gnE1sC
Amazon: 0465092845
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 1995-03-10T00:00:00+00:00

CONFLICT IN THE THERAPY GROUP

Conflict cannot be eliminated from human groups, whether dyads, small groups, macrogroups, or such megagroups as nations and blocs of nations. If overt conflict is denied or suppressed, invariably it will manifest itself in oblique, corrosive, and often ugly ways. Although our immediate association with conflict is negative—destruction, bitterness, war, violence—a moment of reflection brings to mind positive associations: drama, excitement, change, and development. Therapy groups are no exception. Some groups become “too nice” and diligently avoid conflict and confrontation, often mirroring the therapist’s avoidance of aggression. Yet conflict is so inevitable in the course of a group’s development that its absence suggests some impairment of the developmental sequence. Furthermore, conflict can be exceeding valuable to the course of therapy, provided that its intensity does not exceed the members’ tolerance and that proper group norms have been established. Learning how to deal effectively with conflict is an important therapeutic step that contributes to individual maturation and emotional resilience. 15 In this section, I consider conflict in the therapy group—its sources, its meaning, and its contribution to therapy.

Sources of Hostility

There are many sources of hostility in the therapy group and an equal number of relevant explanatory models and perspectives, ranging from ego psychology to object relations to self psychology.16 The group leader’s capacity to identify the individual, interpersonal, and group dynamic contributions to the hostility in the group is essential.17

Some antagonisms are projections of the client’s self-contempt. Indeed, often many sessions pass before some individuals really begin to hear and respect the opinions of other members. They have so little self-regard that it is at first inconceivable that others similar to themselves have something valuable to offer. Devaluation begets devaluation, and a destructive interpersonal loop can be readily launched.

Transference or parataxic distortions often generate hostility in the therapy group. One may respond to others not on the basis of reality but on the basis of an image of the other distorted by one’s own past relationships and current interpersonal needs and fears. Should the distortion be negatively charged, then a mutual antagonism may be easily initiated. The group may function as a “hall of mirrors,”†18 which may aggravate hostile and rejecting feelings and behaviors. Individuals may have long suppressed some traits or desires of which they are much ashamed; when they encounter another person who embodies these very traits, they generally shun the other or experience a strong but inexplicable antagonism toward the person. The process may be close to consciousness and recognized easily with guidance by others, or it may be deeply buried and understood only after many months of investigation.

• One patient, Vincent, a second-generation Italian-American who had grown up in the Boston slums and obtained a good education with great difficulty, had long since dissociated himself from his roots. Having invested his intellect with considerable pride, he spoke with great care in order to avoid betraying any nuance of his accent or background. In fact, he abhorred the thought of his lowly past and

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