The project investigated aspects of group dynamics and group behavior with mentally retarded adolescents, aged 18 to 25 years with a mental age ranging from 3 to 7 years, who worked in citriculture in Israel. The report began with an examination of the peer group principle, its relationship to childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, and its…

To study the effect of democratic and autocratic leadership styles upon the commitment and productivity of voluntary adult groups, eight tenant councils, composed of approximately six persons each, were selected to serve as experimental groups. Trained researchers acting as discussion leaders for each council functioned as either democratic or…

This report reviews recent innovations in the application of group processes in educational settings. The innovations deal with the use of group dynamics in the teacher learning process and in the improvement of interpersonal relations with students, teachers, and administrators. The report surveys relevant U.S. literature since 1965,…

The report contains topics included in a plan for research on academic groups and collectives which might be as follows: The mechanism for regulating the effectiveness of people's interactions and conditions governing the selection and recruitment for academic groups and collectives; Methods of evaluating the social-psychological characteristics…

Examines the concepts of freedom and responsibility from several angles, separately, together and in relationship to other basics in the discipline of democracy. (ED)

This article states that group psychotherapy could provide social usefulness over individual psychotherapy because of the advantage of numbers. Group psychotherapy can handle more people at relatively less cost. The author points out the pros and cons of group therapy and dangers of unqualified individuals practising today. (PS)

Cites the advantages of studying the group process through the historical example and notes specific principles that students can draw from these models to apply to their own discussion groups. (MH)

This paper focuses on the selection, training, and monitoring of the small group leaders in an extensive program of sex education. It discusses leadership screening, early orientation, small group training sessions, practice leadership, supervision, evaluation, and problem solution in this highly sensitive area of sexuality. (Author)

A rhetorical framework based on Burkean theory is used to analyze the relative success of leadership contenders in small groups in obtaining cooperation of the other members and resolving the struggle for leadership. The analyses reveal the importance of transcending symbolic divisions in leadership emergence. (JMF)

Examines the rhetoric of "popular" atheists in the U.S. and argues that their rhetoric possesses distinctive features that are the natural results of existential failure. (MH)

Describes the "Ropes and Initiatives" course for secondary school students at the Lathrop E. Smith Environmental Educational Center, Rockville, Maryland. The course is designed to increase the students self confidence, teach them to develop trust in others and foster groups interaction and responsibility. (CM)

Reviews literature dealing with social class and status, and presents a structural theory of the relationship between class and status group formation. Evidence is presented from studies of solidarity among 17 American ethnic groups and of voting in Australia. (Author/DB)

The social and educational theories of Basil Bernstein are examined. (JD)

Described are developments in the dynamics of a 13-session group discussion project for nine visually impaired older adults. (CL)