Abstract
The paper relates that whether groups are formed for social or task oriented purposes, the ability to produce and maintain a sense of affiliation, peer support and collaboration is important for overall group functioning. The paper discusses how the cohesion of a social group is produced through the establishment of a group norm, which is defined as a guide for conduct accepted within a group of individuals (as cited in Online Lexicon, 2007). However, the paper discusses how in order for a group to perform and produce results, the team leader should guide the team through the proper stages of group development, which includes the following steps: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. The paper asserts that although teams should follow all these stages of group development, the forming and the norming stages are the most important, since these develop and foster the development of the group norm which prevents segregation within a group. In addition, the paper argues that an autocratic leadership style, which is a very authoritative method is useful in cohering a poorly organized group, especially a group of young high school students as in the movie, "The Breakfast Club" (as cited in Hughes, 1985).

From the Paper
"Whether groups are formed for social or task oriented purposes, the ability to produce and maintain a sense of affiliation, peer support and collaboration is important for overall group functioning. The cohesion of a social group is produced through the establishment of a group norm, which is defined as a guide for conduct accepted within a group of individuals (as cited in Online Lexicon, 2007). However, in order for a group to perform and produce results, the team leader should guide the team through the proper stages of group development, which includes the following steps: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning."

Tags:group, norm, social

Abstract
This paper focuses on the dynamics of a departmental work group which was created to manage daily operations within a specific working environment. This paper examines the initial goals of the group as well as the instances and reasons for severe issues of conflict within the group. The writer of this paper discusses the various strategies and processes the group must implement in order to resolve the issues of conflict to once again become an effective and productive team. This paper lists the various acceptable and non-acceptable behaviors within a group environment. The writer contends and explains why it's imperative that there be an effective leader that is capable of guiding and leading his or her team to resolve issues of conflict which ultimately impede on the productivity of the entire group. This paper also examines the effectiveness of the 'storming' process in resolving conflict. The storming process addresses the lack of leadership and/or cohesiveness within the group. The storming process allows for members of the group to aspire for higher positioning or for a leadership role within the group while at the same time rejecting the current self-assigned leader.

From the Paper
"One of the major problems with the team is that the main focus for many members is based on jockeying for position, rather than on achieving the goals of the team. It must be noted that for a team to be effective, members must be aligned and focused on achieving team goals together, not on achieving individual goals. This is not occurring. I believe that a major reason for this is based on the fact that members are viewing the work group as an opportunity to be noticed by the manager and achieve individual success. In saying this, it must be noted that the work group is the first opportunity many members have had to contribute to the department. This means that members are viewing the work group as an opportunity to contribute more to the department."

Tags:applied, practice, conflict, group, workplace, human, resources, leader, team

Abstract
This paper evaluates current research about group therapy, in particular the advantages and the disadvantages of having the same sex individuals in one single group. The writer examines the types of groups that exist for therapy, including those focused on a single issue, such as illness. The author discusses the goals of group therapy, which include creating and maintaining healthy relationships. The author concludes that group therapy is more positive when both sexes participate, as the purpose of group therapy is ultimately to train the patient for a future that will enable him to lead a normal and productive life in the outside world.

From the Paper
"One case example can be studied to illustrate exactly how, when a member of the opposite sex joined a group of the same sex, in this case, a group of women, the entire tenor and the very tone of the group underwent a drastic change. The case is about a group of four women, with a woman group leader. These women found that they were able to share their feelings with openness and honesty, and that they were able to express a wide range of feelings amongst themselves. However, all the women would joke amongst themselves about when a man would enter the group, and when it was announced that a man would soon be joining their group, almost all the women immediately associated their feelings about the men in their lives, perhaps a violent boyfriend, or an abusive brother, or a chauvinistic father, with this man. (Alonso; Swiller, 1993)"

Tags:group, therapy, psychotherapy, sexes

Abstract
This paper relates that Irwin Yalom, the author of "The Theory and Practice Of Group Psychotherapy", organizes this existential theory under four major themes, which are death, freedom (and responsibility), isolation and meaninglessness. Yalom, the author reports, sees group participation as an important part of the therapeutic process and that being a part of a group is potentially therapeutic in and of itself. The paper concludes that, over the course of the author's group meetings, she did learn more about group dynamics in terms of Yalom's goals for group members such as the corrective recapitulation of previous family experiences.

From the Paper
"Yalom says that the first, initial stage of orientation is usually characterized by "hesitant participation" which would be a fair characterization of most of our group. The first stage is also characterized by a search for meaning for the purpose of the group's being and a state of dependency on the group leader or other group members. During our initial phases of our coming together as a group and our search for what our group's purpose would be, although there was some mutual commiseration about our confusion and our desire to use the assignment productively, while we were all bonded by the common status of being part of the same class."

Tags:conflict empathy, group cohesion, sharing, developmental sequences

Abstract
This paper examines and analyzes the group therapeutic process for adults. In particular, it addresses several theories of group therapy, including Irvin Yalom, the "father" of group therapy. The purpose of group therapy and composition of the group is explored in-depth. the characteristics of a good group leader are also highlighted.

From the Paper
"Early states that group therapy is a means of changing maladaptive behavioral and emotional patterns to healthier patterns that is based on the core assumption that both behavior and emotion involves people's adaptation and responses to other people. The group therapy process typically involves groups of three or more people seeking change. The composition of the group can be heterogeneous or homogeneous with respect to a variety of factors, including age, education, skills, the nature of the..."

Tags:group psychotherapy, leader's role, Yalom

Abstract
This paper discusses group interaction in the workplace. The paper explains that symbolic interaction theory can be utilized to describe the development of the group and its functioning as a cohesive unit to complete the tasks assigned. The paper points out that according to symbolic interaction theorists the human condition requires group living and group dynamics. The paper then looks at how the interactions we have in these groups is determined by some overt, but many subtle role expectations that can be based on gender, appearance, communication style, race or even understanding of the members of the group of what a certain known individual would perceptually be good at.

From the Paper
"The roles that were assigned were to some degree voluntary, and yet there was also a leaning on the part of the group leader to designate roles based on her prior knowledge of the individual student, if she had worked with them before and if she had not based on their own admission of desire or perception, therefore to some degree symbolic interaction took place even in role assignments. As the self is the determining member in a voluntary group it is also interesting to note that many people report feeling inclinations to fill certain roles not necessarily based upon what their skills are but on what they have done in the past or more importantly what they have been guided to in the past by symbolic interaction."

Tags:role, development, leadership, group, dynamics

Abstract
This paper analyses the format and perceived effectiveness of a self-help group using Irvin Yalom's (1975) Eleven Curative Factors of Group Therapy model. The paper examines the incorporation of knowledge gathered from literature on breast cancer education and the integration of education into the support group by the moderator, guest speaker, and group participants.

From the Paper
"This paper analyses the format and perceived effectiveness of a self-help group using Irvin Yalom's (1975) Eleven Curative Factors of Group Therapy model. The analysis of the group will be based on this model and the incorporation of knowledge gathered from literature on breast cancer education and the integration of education into the support group by the moderator, guest speaker, and group participants."

Tags:group, therapy, counseling

Abstract
Unlike therapy and psychological assessments at the individual level, an entirely new level of complications emerges when we deal with those same disciplines at the group level. For the practicing psychologist at the individual level, one needs only to agree to meet with the client and then proceed to do so according to the individual needs and capacity of the client. However, when one considers the group environment, wherein the psychologist collectively works with several patients who are also encouraged to work with one another, client selection in particular can be made all the more difficult. This paper compares the differences for the practicing psychologist in client selection at the individual level vs. the group level. The paper points out that all the the process is more complicated at the group level, there are also benefits to be had in the group session such as more voices and more interaction, which can be especially helpful in socialization cases or for mood improvement.

Tags:group, counseling, client

Abstract
This paper analyzes the focus group interview. It describes this method and tries to find out why this research procedure works and why and how it is used. The writer also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of focus groups. In addition, the writer explains its detailed methodology, process of its planning, moderating of discussion, analyzing and reporting of obtained data. The writer concludes that the future of this qualitative technique is probably in online focus groups, although this new environment and new technology could also bring new problems and threats to the final outcome.

Outline:
What is Focus Group?
What is Focus Group Used For? Where is it Used?
Advantages of Focus Groups
Disadvantages of Focus Groups
Methodology of Focus Groups

From the Paper
"Focus group is a special qualitative research technique used for deeper understanding of a topic or a phenomena of interest. It is also sometimes called as group interviewing or controlled group discussion (Wimmer, Dominick 1991: 145). As submitted by Mahoney (1997) focus groups combine elements of both interviewing and participant observation. The group consists of 6 to 12 people being interviewed simultaneously by a moderator who leads and controls the discussion about a focal topic (Wimmer, Dominick 1991: 145). The composition of the group is relatively homogeneous along some predetermined meaningful characteristic (age, gender, social class, level of expertise, etc.). For example a focus group could consist of university teachers or engineering experts from one location to discuss an issue of relevance. Or other focus group might bring together all experts in a particular sector, e.g. transportation. There is a list of topics or specific questions which should be discussed in a permisive environment where points of view are not judged and consensus or decisions are not sought. Each respondent is viewed as having a valued poit-of-view (Williams 2001)."

Tags:social, research, participant, observation, controlled, group, moderator

Abstract
This paper is on group decisions in communicating. Group decision communicating often consists of orientation, conflict, emergence, and reinforcement. Decision-emergence theory is an explanation of the complex communication process that groups go through in doing any projects. These steps often make or break the group.

Tags:group decision, communicating