Reviews the major tenets of the groupthink hypothesis of Irving Janis, as well as the research on which it is based. Reviews previous research on group dynamics related to groupthink. Proposes guidelines for research to test the propositions of groupthink. (Author/RC)

Discusses inadequacies of current method of teaching ethnic perspectives to graduate and undergraduate social work students. Suggests a group therapeutic model be used to teach ethnic and minority content. Provides implications for social work faculty, students of ethnic and minority content, and the social work profession as a whole. (AH)

Presents a workshop focusing on increasing: self-knowledge of participants and their environment, and decision making skills for occupational midlife reassessment and change. Concludes that these workshops should be pursued by counselors in other settings to assist clients in transition. Personal sharing among participants led to self-insight and…

Describes how the faculty in the geography department at University College London used group analysis to improve discussion about their teaching objectives in an effort to change their undergraduate teaching program. (RM)

Uses social systems theory to analyze the interaction of an informal group of family and friends formed around an individual in an intensive care unit. Discusses contributors to dissension including ambiguity of the task structure, fluidity of leadership and power, and failure of a utopian defense. (Author/JAC)

Hypothesized that members of a Jesus movement (N=22) would show significant decreases on a variety of self-actualizing values as operationally defined and measured by the Personal Orientation Inventory (POI). Results indicated that after conversion the Jesus people showed significant decreases on the majority of attributes associated with…

Discusses the impact of conflict in small group development theory. Views conflict as a positive, normally occurring behavior and presents leadership strategies involving withdrawal, suppression, integration, compromise, and power. Examines situational contingencies and presents a rationale for strategy selection and intervention. (Author)

Discusses various techniques used in selecting residence hall staff including peer ratings, role playing, and the Leaderless Group Discussion. Use of personality inventories in selecting staff is reviewed. Conclusions consider the validity of these techniques. (RC)

Teacher evaluation of kindergarten children showed half lacked leadership ability and appeared to be followers. Many lacked initiative, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to take constructive criticism. Suggests schools have a responsibility to provide an environment free from deprivation of social values. Urges that internal self-discipline…

Systems and communications theories applied to the delicate task of matching children with families promise an objective method for understanding the complexities of family relationships. The author shows how one agency successfully incorporated sophisticated theoretical tools into a study process evaluating the stability of foster family…

Assesses both the contact hypothesis and the superordinate goal hypothesis through an examination of interracial interaction on a desegregated high school football team. The research shows that one can be resocialized to accept and use new value codes and interaction patterns toward members of another race. (NEC)

Evaluated differences in group cohesion, trust, attraction, and perceptions of feedback due to interpersonal feedback. Undergraduate groups experienced intimacy-building exercises and then exchanged varied interpersonal feedback. Results indicated response mode did not affect feedback ratings or cohesion ratings; the valence of the feedback…

Describes the Systems Marriage Enrichment Program which was developed from the systems concepts of circular causality, the identification of predictable interaction patterns, and the adaptive and homeostatic mechanisms. Presents a protocol process consisting of five phases with goals and techniques. (Author)

Describes E. Frank Harrison's model of decision making and discusses its implications for decision making by librarians and information managers. Questions relating to decision quality, group size, reward and penalty mechanisms, group norms, and the place of information science in the study of decision making are addressed. Nine references are…

Groups (N=62) of four members each used a multiple role-playing technique under three conditions: majority rule, unanimity rule, or no assigned decision rule. Results suggested that assignment of a majority rule has greater potential for reducing power inequalities. Discusses changes in members' self-perceived power. (Author/RC)