Establishing a human resource development (HRD) program for HRD practitioners frequently results in problems of organizational change. The author has applied the theories of three contemporary sociologists--Talcott Parsons, Lewis Coser, and Peter Blau--to a hypothetical case study of an HRD consulting firm faced with developing its own human…

Presents a format for conducting effective training workshops using socioprocess groups as the specific training modality. The inservice program for juvenile court workers was designed to develop awareness of the basic principles of interpersonal relationships and to develop skills in using them. (JAC)

Describes several kinds of mutual help groups and two ways to initiate them: (1) through conferences, and (2) through short-term training programs. A substantial need continues for mutual help groups in an era of reduced professional and consumer resources. Research is needed to document their extensiveness, impact and longevity. (JAC)

Reviewed studies of the group curative process that have employed Yalom's description of group curative factors. The studies reviewed demonstrated consistency regarding the highly ranked curative factors, and raised issues regarding interrelatedness and valuing of the factors across varying groups. (JAC)

Examined culture variables in the negotiation of implicit rules which govern leadership behavior in small groups. American, French, and Arab students (N=42) were assigned identical decision-making tasks. Results showed monocultural groups presented homogeneous rules governing leadership prior to interaction, while intercultural groups presented…

Recent criticism of ethnolinguistic vitality and the Subjective Vitality Questionnaire developed to assess vitality perceptions is discussed and refuted. The concept of ethnolinguistic vitality emerged as an application of social psychology to ethnic intergroup relations and is proposed as a construct for various ethnic, social, and language…

Describes scapegoating encountered during the author's third-year experience as psychological consultant to the oncology unit of a large medical center. Therapeutic strategies for managing the crisis within the structure of an ongoing staff support group are discussed. A conceptual framework for understanding the scapegoating process is…

Groups play an important part in the lives of Japanese citizens. Interpersonal relations and harmony are the source of group strength. A comparison of group life in the United States and Japan indicates that, generally, Japanese work for their group's good, while Americans work for their personal good. (HLM)

The relationship between linguistic processes, cognitive activities, and social structures is explored by examining the decision-making of committees of educators deciding whether or not to place students in special education programs. Differential treatment of committee members is explained by the authority their reports gain by their language…

Classroom creative problem-solving activities were developed around clearly defined problems having many possible solutions and entailing a situation where reality is slightly skewed. Working in small groups, students role-play by becoming "experts" at the matter in hand. A group secretary keeps students accountable for their time. Problem-solving…

The social process in clinical decision-making in emergency rooms was studied. Data from interviews and direct observation at two large urban general hospitals with busy emergency rooms staffed by medical and surgical residents are presented. Situations call for individual, consultive, or consensual patterns in making decisions. (Author/MSE)

Presents evidence that, contrary to popular assumptions, television viewing and learning both involve a high degree of social interaction. "Collaborative learning television" is proposed as a means of promoting learning by taking advantage of the social nature of watching television and the social nature of learning. Twenty-five references are…

Presents literature relevant to initial group structure and advances a model of group development based upon personal construct theory. The proposed model illuminates the relationship between initial structure and the psychological processes underlying group development. Research questions are posited to advance empirical tests of the model. (RC)

Examined the effects exerted upon compliance behavior by two types of dispositional self-conciousness. Subjects (N=65) were induced to make incorrect responses on a perceptual task by means of simulated group pressure. Results indicated that private self-conciousness was associated with the tendency to make judgments using internal perceptions.…