Adults who work in positions of authority with young people must be prepared for the possibility of conflict, which could lead to aggressive behavior. Incorrect handling of a crisis will produce a conflict cycle, the four stages of which are described. Legal issues surrounding physical intervention (in the United Kingdom) are summarized, and…

A study of 32 Swedish workers without hearing impairments and 34 associates who were deaf investigated their social relations in bicultural work groups. Results found that a majority of both groups felt they understood each other and were understood, but almost all participants reported misunderstanding between the two groups. (CR)

Using the example of a Navajo student teacher late for the first day of mentoring, steps are presented that enable parties with divergent perspectives to prevent or resolve conflicts by gaining second-person perspective, establishing a calm reflective ambiance, and seeking points of convergence. Presents 10 elements for reaching higher ground in…

Data from 22 business graduate students on a team-building course were used to identify themes important for teamwork: getting to know one another, egalitarianism, team spirit, task achievement, and unfinished business. Teams appeared to be dynamic and constantly adapting to circumstances; therefore, evaluation should not view them as a finished…

Notes that the divisionary effect of formal corporate models that standardize collaborative processes is particularly problematic for World Wide Web hypertexts, which require ongoing, dynamic collaborations among professionals with diverse specializations. Examines collaborative processes through theory and two Web project teams interactions: one…

Discusses the use of group counseling strategies for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Aims to provide counselors with information about pertinent factors related to MS that require careful consideration when employing general group techniques. Looks at group effectiveness, forming the group, and various types of groups, and offers a case…

Suggests that teachers of African American students have an obligation to familiarize themselves with some of the important differences in their students' language and culture that affect their learning in the classroom. Describes the rich oral tradition and group-centered ethos of African American culture. (RS)

A positive group culture is an essential component of effective intervention with troubled and troubling youth. This article describes practical strategies for forming prosocial group climates. (Contains 40 references.) (Author)

Argues that interactants define and stabilize identity by producing identity artifacts with multimodal means, by constructing configurations of those artifacts, and by using those artifacts to project social space. Develops the argument through the close analysis of an episode of interaction from a high school English classroom in which one…

Describes a collaborative classroom process that helps build cohesion among group members by placing all students into the roles of writer, reader, editor, and evaluator. Presents six teaching tips for the process. (RS)

Elementary and secondary classroom teachers (N=51) basically agreed on the importance of a reward system, clear student roles, and evaluation of teamwork as factors that affected successful implementation of cooperative learning. Other significant factors identified were teaching/management skills, activity design, and group composition. (IAH)

Research studies on cooperative learning have indicated that nonacademic benefits include improved interpersonal relations, greater social support, higher self-esteem, altruism, and ability to take another's perspective. (JD)

Describes characteristics of immature, or regressive groups, including avoidance of conflict, abdication of responsibility, and psychic numbness; and characteristics of mature, or generative groups, including group transcendence. Examines the notion of group mind and concludes that the evolution of mind is dependent on the group's psychological…

Reports on three research studies that tested the hypothesis that the focus of attention of individuals in groups varies as a function of the group composition. The populations studied were members of the Nixon White House staff, high school students, and male undergraduate students. Results supported the idea of self-focused attention as a…

Sees introduction of specific structures and exercises in psychotherapy group as directly controlling course of events and affecting members' perceptions of the group and leader. Asserts that exercises must highlight, rather than bypass, existing group processes. Presents five-step model for preparing, working with, processing, generalizing, and…