It was concluded that Ss preferring low rates of social interchange show greater change following a weekend encounter group than initially high participators, possibly because the behavior of the former is more discrepant from encounter group norms and thus is confronted more. (Author)

Results of this study indicated that from prelaboratory to post laboratory, subjects' ratings showed a decrement in self disclosure toward both male and female friends. Thus the communications laboratory seems to have had a significant effect on the participants, the change being in the opposite direction from that expected. (Author)

The relative power of cooperative and trusting patterns of behavior versus those of exploitation and distrust in affecting the results of group decision-making processes was investigated. The outcome of a study using the Prisoner's Dilemma Game seems to suggest the disproportionate influence of competitive people in these settings. (Author)

Discusses five areas of concern related to utilization of group experiences: (1) insufficient training of group leaders, (2) possibility of groups becoming mystic cults, (3) equating of therapeutic gain with expressing of negative feeling, (4) lack of awareness that group change may result from pressure to conform, (5) possible harmful…

College students (N=27) were assigned to a time-extended or a marathon group or a control condition to evaluate the effects of encounter experiences on self-perception and interpersonal behavior. Both experimental groups showed significantly greater changes in self-perceptions from pretest to posttest than the control group. (Author)

Involving children in games stressing cooperation rather than competition helps them to overcome the tendency to be too aggressive and teaches them compassion and caring for others. (JD)