Group Dynamics and Coles 7 steps

Question 1

Group Cohesiveness

Answer 1

The sense of solidarity the members feel toward each other and the group

Based on a sense of closeness and identification with each other or with the group itself.

“we-ness” (belonging together)

Question 2

Intermember similarity

Answer 2

The degree to which group members believe they are liked by each other

Or share a sense of purpose or reason for being in a group together

Contributes to group cohesion

Question 3

Group Goals

Answer 3

The purposes for which the group meets

Establish a commonality

Goals should have meaning to the members

Activities are chosen to meet the group goals

Question 4

Group Norms

Answer 4

The rules and standards expected for the group

Define the limits of permissible and acceptable behavior

Often it is up to you as the leader to enforce norms

Question 5

Roles of Group Members:

Task Roles

Answer 5

• Initiator-contributor
• Opinion seeker
• Opinion giver
• Energizer

Question 6

Roles of Group Members: Group Maintenance Roles

Answer 6

Encourager
Gatekeeper
Follower

Question 7

Roles of Group Members: Anti-group (Egocentric)

Answer 7

Roles
Aggressor
Blocker
Dominator

Question 8

Group Dynamics

Answer 8

Constantly evolving, never static quality of groups

Question 9

Group Dynamics: Factors

Answer 9

The individual member

Reactions of the participants to each other

Subgroups

Question 10

The individual member

Answer 10

Personality, experience, emotional state

Question 11

Reactions of the participants to each other

Answer 11

Complementary or

Mutually destructive patterns

Question 12

Subgroups

Answer 12

Form as members make alliances

May exclude others

May reinforce the status of their members

May compete with other subgroups

Question 13

Scapegoating

Answer 13

The entire group may“gang up” against one member

May blame the member for failure to meet group goals

Question 14

Development of group skills

Answer 14

Parallel level

Project level

Egocentric-Cooperative Level

Cooperative Level

Mature Level

Question 15

Therapy Groups

Answer 15

Designed to help patients acquire new skills or practice old ones

Structure groups to meet the needs of people at various levels :

• by changing the tasks and
• by delegating or assuming functional group roles.

Question 16

Groups

Answer 16

Task/Activity

Interactive

Leader-mediated groups

Question 17

Task/Activity

Answer 17

Member can experiment with occupational roles relevant to lives
Energy should be focused on goals
Leader Role Varies
Active to observation

Question 18

Interactive

Answer 18

Every member communicates with every other member and with the group leader

Question 19

Leader-mediated groups

Answer 19

Members communicate only with or through the group leader

Question 20

Adaptations for low functioning individuals

Answer 20

Treatment session
Short sessions – 30 minutes

Group leader is very active

Group leader provides momentum

Leader may use
Touch, eye contact, voice control, hand over hand assist

Question 21

Adaptations for low functioning individuals

Step One: Introduction

Answer 21

Introduce self

Introduce group that is about to take place – expectations of the group.

Have each group member introduce themselves if they are able

Helps learn names as well as acknowledge
participants membership of the group

This is a very important step and can either make or break the group.

Question 22

Step One: Introduction Continued

Answer 22

WARM-UP

May need a warm up activity – going on a picnic game, grandma’s trunk game, etc… helps set the mood and can be used as an ice breaker

Prepares the members for the group experience

Can be structured or non-structured

Question 23

Step One: Introduction Continued

Answer 23

SET MOOD

Think about your facial expressions, body language, tone of voice

Think about media being used.

Only introduce materials and tools when time.

Question 24

Step Two: Activity

Answer 24

5 aspects to think about

1) Timing
2) Therapeutic goals
3) Physical and Mental Capacities of the 	members
4) Knowledge of the skill leader
5) Adaptation of the activity

Question 25

Step Three: Sharing

Answer 25

Each member is invited to share their work and need to be acknowledged when they do Time management is important here – may need to set rules for sharing May need to encourage and be supportive in allowing those to share If client’s refuse to share, this must be accepted Be empathetic

Question 26

Step Four: Processing

Answer 26

Involves time for clients to express their feelings about the experience, the leader and/or each other Again time needs to be managed and rules may need to be discussed From the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 2nd Edition (AOTA 2008) 1) Focuses on issues that engage or discourage “engagement in occupations” 2) Focuses on emotions that facilitate or present “barriers to participation” Also focuses on non-verbal aspects of group Processing of verbal and non-verbal aspects of group must be managed skillfully

Question 27

Step Five: Generalizing

Answer 27

Review responses of group Look at patterns of responses among group members Did the group progress as planned? Look at areas of disagreement Look at the group energy Try to sum up processes of group

Question 28

Step Six: Application

Answer 28

Closely follows the generalizing phase. Help client’s understand how they will apply what they learned in group to everyday life and be more functional and appropriate outside of group. This step may resemble some sort of problem-solving for group members. From the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 2nd Edition (AOTA 2008) 1) Addresses how the learning will facilitate “participation in life”.

Question 29

Step Seven: Summary

Answer 29

Purpose is to verbally emphasize the most important aspects of group in order to understand and remember them Review of group goals, content and process of the group. Can ask members to help summarize Emotional content important to summarize Thank members for their participation in group. Final responsibility is to end group on time.

Question 30

Last minute notes

Answer 30

Not intended to meet all needs for all client’s It can be adapted in many ways to reflect differing client's goals and frames of reference. Used as guidelines and some steps may take more or less time to conduct.