This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Gustafson, J. P. Articles by Cooper, L. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Unconscious Planning in Small Groups

Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin, Clinical Sciences Center, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53706.

Lowell Cooper

Westside Community Mental Health Center

The authors offer a new hypothesis to solve the general theoretical and practical problem of how collaborative groups evolve: Namely, that these small groups engage in unconscious planning to solve their own problems, and that consultants work best by augmenting this group planning. This hypothesis borrows the concept of individual unconscious planning propounded by Weiss (unpublished) and furthered by Weiss et al. (1977) and Sampson (1976) from the context of individual psychoanalysis and explains group development as the coordinating of individual planning, i.e., as group planning. This involves making prominent in early meetings what general problem the group wishes to control and master, as well as a logical sequence of the order in which difficulties need to be confronted. After introducing the problem, the authors consider four major aspects of the group planning theory: First, the presentation of the theory itself, compared to previous theories of group development; second, exemplification of the theory by detailed narratives of two study groups in an experimental group relations conference conducted by the authors; third, the considerable scientific problems in this and further tests of the group planning theory; fourth, this theory as a special case of the general theory of biological evolution, and in particular the theory of more effective cultural evolution through the use of scientific method (Popper, 1972).

Human Relations, Vol. 32, No. 12, 1039-1064 (1979)
DOI: 10.1177/001872677903201204


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. S. Baum Creating a Family in the Workplace Human Relations, October 1, 1991; 44(11): 1137 - 1159. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. Gemmill The Dynamics of Scapegoating in Small Groups Small Group Research, November 1, 1989; 20(4): 406 - 418. [Abstract]

				A. M. Brower Behavior Changes in Psychotherapy Groups: A Study Using an Empirically Based Statistical Method Small Group Research, May 1, 1986; 17(2): 164 - 185. [Abstract]

				G. Gemmill The Dynamic of the Group Shadow in Intergroup Relations Small Group Research, May 1, 1986; 17(2): 229 - 240. [Abstract]

				L. Hirschhorn and J. Krantz Unconscious Planning in a Natural Work Group: A Case Study in Process Consultation Human Relations, October 1, 1982; 35(10): 805 - 843. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Cooper and J. P. Gustafson Family-Group Development: Planning in Organizations Human Relations, August 1, 1981; 34(8): 705 - 730. [PDF]

				J. P. Gustafson, L. Cooper, N. C. Lathrop, K. Ringler, F. A. Seldin, and M. K. Wright Cooperative and Clashing Interests in Small Groups. Part I. Theory Human Relations, April 1, 1981; 34(4): 315 - 339. [Abstract] [PDF]