Stages of Group Development - Howe 18-20

Bennis & Shepard (1956): Phase one: concerned with dependence/power relations

1. First subphase: Dependence-flight > Behavior of members to please the leader so the leader will ease the member's anxiety and find a goal or task for him or her > Flight behavior- discussion of matters external to the group 2. Second subphase: Counter-dependence-flight > Expressions of hostility were more frequent and supported by other members 3. Third subphase: resolution-catharsis > Group became unified > Group members assumed leadership roles > Pairing and involvement in group task

Bales (1955) & Tuckman (1965) looked at dynamics of small groups and described similar stages of group development; Tuckman outline 4 stages:

1. Forming: all groups have to deal with issues of coming together and forming a group; they need to get to know each other, their resources/talents, and their tasks 2. Storming: conflict, disagreement over tasks and how it should be completed; conflicts may also arise over group leadership (this is believed to be a normal/natural event in group development) 3. Norming: conflicts have been resolved and group can develop norms/procedures to carry out its activities; cohesive unit has begun to form 4. Performing: group is in control and can work effectively on the task at hand. *Adjournining* or termination

William Schutz (1960) presented group development based on interpersonal needs and described 3 stages:

1. Inclusion: involved issues related to belonging/not belonging to the group 2. Control: involved issues of dependence & authority 3. Affection: involved issues of intimacy, closeness, caring

Bion (1959) studied group development from a psychoanalytic point of view; focused on the tensions experienced by group members and the resolution of these tensions in the process of group development. Group members coped with their tensions in 3 stages:

1. Through fighting or fleeing 2. Through dependence & counter-dependence on the leader 3. Through a process of pairing

Bennis & Shepard (1956): Second phase: group interdependence

Group turned attention to issues of shared responsibility Subphase four: enchantment- flight > Everyone was happy > Atmosphere of "sweetness and light" > Decisions unanimous > No one had strong feelings about issues Subphase five: disenchantment > Group divided into subgroups according to degree of intimacy required for membership. > Resolution of problem occured under the pressure of having to accomplish a task o Subphase six: Consensual validation > Acceptance of group in realistic terms > Group consensus became easier to achieve important issues > Personal ties developed from working together to achieve group goals

Stages of Group Development

Groups pass through several stages or phases of development during their existence; these phases have been labeled in various ways according to behavioral theories In beginning stages members need to get to know each other and develop comfort; members then develop ways of interrelating and working together Path for development is not linear

Garland, Jones, and Kolodny five stages of group development

They were observers with backgrounds in social group work, described 5 stages of group development: 1. Preaffiliation 2. Power and control 3. Intimacy 4. Differentiation 5. Separation

Bion concluded that pairing of the 3rd stage was

a way of creating closer bonds between members and thus overcoming underlying fears/tensions.

Bennis & Shepard (1956) presented yet another theory of group development based on their studies of group dynamics

they delineate 2 major areas of uncertainty for group members; orientation to authority and power and orientation toward each other: