Asserts that the study of human behavior is the study of social interaction. Describes a theoretical perspective from sociology and shows how it relates to the alcoholic family. Analyzes the dynamics within a family affected by alcoholism to examine who has the power, who maintains control, how one loses power, and how power is exhibited. (NB)

The introduction to the special issue on preventive discipline in special education notes such themes as the importance of the teacher's affective behavior, focus on the child, helping students be involved in their own growth, group dynamics, and ecological factors of the physical setting. (DB)

Advises directors of ways to include day care workers in the decision-making process. Enumerates benefits of using staff to help focus and direct changes in the day care center and discusses possible pitfalls in implementation of a collective decision-making approach to management. (NH)

A variety of group oriented behavior management strategies to modify classroom behavior problems is suggested. Advantages, disadvantages, and implementation guidelines for the group response cost system, the good behavior game, the group timeout ribbon, hero method, peer-mediated extinction, and peer confrontation. (DB)

Provides a review of lessons learned in dealing with unique problems encountered while providing group counseling for adult patients with metastatic cancer. Discusses problems, institutional policies, personal biases, and logistics associated with forming, establishing, maintaining, conducting and assessing the outcomes of group counseling with…

Describes the use of quality circles in an Oregon State University class, "Survey of the Media," to improve group dynamics and modify problem behavior. Explains how the quality circles are set up and how team ratings are used to grade student work. (DMM)

Claims that encouraging children to act cooperatively instead of competitively can make learning a positive experience for the majority of students. Suggests activities which encourage this shift. (JK)

Compared one experimental reminiscence group, using a conventional format to recall memories from different life stages and another using an experiential format that included focusing on feelings and thoughts with each other and with control samples that did not formally meet in groups, but that were tested in groups. All groups increased in…

Assessed outcome in 10 British and American sensitivity training workshops in terms of reported self-benefit and benefit to one's relations with others not present. Found differing patterns of change between the two outcome variables, suggesting that they embody separate models of workshop learning processes. (Author/NB)

Indicates that, of the thirteen variables investigated, group support has the greatest relationship to work stress. Finds that role overload and responsibility for people are significantly related to behavioral style. Shows that group and individual level communication variables are more closely related to work stress than organizational…

Suggests an important modification to H. A. Simon's original Model of Interaction in social groups to (1) explain the emergence and organizational structure of communication, friendship, and activity patterns and (2) trace their effect on human sentiment. Indicates that the more frequently people interact with one another, the stronger their…

This paper describes a group of adolescents who met with a therapist after a friend had committed suicide. The purpose of the group was to discuss the feelings engendered by the suicide. The setting up of the group, an explanation of the victim's difficulties, and issues dealt with by the group are described. (Author)

The effects of different group processes on team performance is examined using a formative evaluation. A taxonomy of six different decision-making and leadership styles is developed. Cohesion was found to be a significant factor in explaining high performance. (Author/BL)

Reports the results of an experiment which compared two types of cooperative learning with individual learning on short-term academic achievement of 84 third graders. Results showed that students of all ability levels achieved better under the two cooperative learning conditions than the individualistic conditions. Long-term retention showed…

Using a Bales-type observational system to code behaviors of two psychotherapy groups, sessions were statistically clustered according to their behavioral similarity. These clusters were compared to identify distinct phases of development. Although similarities were found, it was shown that different groups develop differently. (Author/BL)