Describes an attempt to facilitate a consistently open-systems approach which stimulates rapid growth, learning, and group cohesiveness. Presented at the Annual Conference of the American Association of Marital and Family Therapists in Houston, October 1978. (Author/BEF)

Investigated the effectiveness of exercises designed to promote group cohesiveness, compared to systematic human relations training for preservice teachers. Found the experimental group showed greater posttest scores on empathic responding and attitudes toward students. Suggests group exercises may have affected the participants as they perceived…