This document presents a concise discussion of current thinking and practices in the area of group counseling in the schools. The material, divided into two sections is based on the discussion of a panel of counselor educators and practicing counselors. Part I consists of the discussion among the participants and Part II is composed of questions…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible role of adult education in nation-building. Nation-building was defined as a process of building group cohesion and group loyalty for the purposes of domestic planning and international representation. Models were designed for the purpose of analyzing the function of adult education in…

Counselors working with developmental groups need: (1) a thorough understanding of their group, (2) great skill, and (3) deep personal involvement. The author suggests specific characteristics for successful developmental groups: (1) the desire of the entire residence hall staff to be involved, (2) a co-ed group limited to eight members, and (3)…

This paper reports a validity study of a sociometric technique described by Barclay. The sample was 103 elementary school children. Sociometric scores were compared against the criterion of adjustment of Referral versus Non-referral to the school counseling service. Data were analyzed by a point biserial r, t tests, and a comparison of percentages…

A social psychological theory of self-other orientation provides the basis of a theory of interpersonal conflict and aggression. It is assumed that conflict devolves to aggression toward self or other under conditions of reduction in self esteem and social interest, and the development of an unchanging self-centered theory of behavior. Principles…

This study compared the effects of professional and subprofessional counselors using group insight and group desensitization techniques with high and low imagery arousal test anxious college students. Two professional and two subprofessional counselors met with groups of three students for five interviews to administer insight and desensitization…

This study investigated the differential effects of various training techniques on the counselor effectiveness of beginning practicum students. It was hypothesized that there would be significant differences between the subjects pre- and post-test scores on both the Affective Sensitivity Scale (ASS) and on the Counselor Verbal Response Scale…

In 1969 the University of South Dakota set up a program of T-Group Experiences for the leaders of practicum groups. Relationships between the leaders as well as between the leaders and their groups were noted. Some fall out from the T-Group to the practicum group was observed. Inter-personal communication increased within practicum groups and a…

The report studies the effects that the achieved status of the principal (power figure) has on the productivity of a heierarchically differenitiated group (participants have unequal ascribed status relationships) when all of the group members have an equal share in making decisions. The study tests two hypotheses: (1) as leader achieved status…

The purpose of this investigation was to describe behaviors observed as comprising leadership contention and gender differences in groups. As defined in this study, leadership contention differs from leadership in that it is comprised of behaviors individuals derive from their beliefs about what leaders do and is also specifically concerned with a…

The purpose of this study was to make a preliminary effort to explore subordinate perceptions of authority as measured by semantic differential-type scales through factor analytic techniques in order to determine the dimensional structure which results from subordinate responses to the question of authority use. Descriptions of authority from…

A critical review of the small group literature is undertaken in an attempt to identify those characteristics which distinguish the dyad, the two-person group, from larger groups. Comparisons of dyads to larger groups are made in five categories of major small group variables: influence processes, affiliation processes, role differentiation and…

A close reading of "Improvisations for the Theater" and "I and Thou" will show that there is a common ground linking the games theory of Viola Spolin and the philosophy and religious teachings of Martin Buber. Relation, to Buber, is the direct and immediate response where two people share mutually with one another. It is this…

The purpose of the present study was to determine if a procedure could be devised to eliminate the need for a therapist in reinforcing for expressions of affect, feedback, or empathy. Twenty-six male and 22 female undergraduate volunteers were randomly assigned to 12 "human relations" groups, comprising three replications of four conditions: 1.…

The term "risky shift" is used to describe the tendency of groups to make a collective decision that is less conservative than the members might make as individuals. Previous research on this subject has been based on three analytical categories: demographic makeup of groups, group familiarity with the task and information, or individual…