Chapter 6 The Working Stage in a Group

Chapter 6 The Working Stage in a Group: Performing Prepared by: Nathaniel N. Ivers, Wake Forest University Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Roadmap n n n The Working Stage of a Group Peer relationships – Johari Window Tasks during the working stage Problems that may arise in the working stage of a group Strategies for assisting groups in the working stage Achieving Outcomes in the Working Stage Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -2 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Working Stage of a Group n n n Focuses on the achievement of individual and group goals Emphasizes the movement of the group itself into a more unified and productive system Described as the group’s “performing stage” (Tuckman & Jensen, 1977) and “action stage” (George & Dustin, 1988) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -3 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Working Stage of a Group n n Group leaders and members feel more freedom and comfort to try out new behaviors and strategies. “Therapeutic forces, ” such as openness to self, others, and new ideas, “are well-established” (Ohlsen et al. , 1988, p. 88). Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -4 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Peer Relationships in the Working Stage n n n Members tend to express genuine concern for one another on a deep, personal level Participants establish how physically and psychologically close they wish to be to others and behave accordingly. Members are more willing to self-disclose. Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -5 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Johari Awareness Model n n Sometimes called the Johari Window Represents what happens in the arena of selfdisclosure when a group is in the working stage (Luft, 1984) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -6 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Johari Window Quadrant 1: Open quadrant Quadrant III: Blind Quadrant Information known to self and others Information originally unknown to self but known to others when the group began Quadrant II: Hidden Quadrant IV: Unknown Quadrant Undisclosed information known only to oneself Material hidden from self and others because of a lack of opportunity Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -7 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Task Process during the Working Stage n n Rounds Role playing Homework Incorporation Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -8 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Problems in the Working Stage n Racial and Gender Issues n n n May be subtle or blatant Cultural Encapsulation Group Collusion n Cooperating with others unconsciously or consciously to “reinforce prevailing attitudes, values, behaviors, or norms” (Butler, 1987, p. 1) The purpose of such behavior is self protection Groupthink Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -9 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Assisting Groups in the Working Stage n n n n Modeling by the Leader Exercises Group Observing Group Brainstorming Nominal-Group Technique Written Projections Group Processing Teaching of Skills Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -10 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Outcomes of the Working Stage n n n n Usually tangible, as goals have been worked on and achieved Learning and sharing of ideas and information among members Catharsis – release of pent-up feelings Cognitive restructuring Confrontation Feedback Corrective Emotional Experience Humor Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7 e Samuel Gladding 6 -11 © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.