Basic Assumption Group Research Articles

Without memory, desire, or sex: contemplating the incel identity

This article proposes a psychoanalytic exploration and interpretation of the incel identity. Through a reading of Melanie Klein's object relations theory and with a particular focus on the theories of Wilfred Bion, the evolution of the incel identity is conceptualised as a product of failed containment and delayed development of a mature psychic mechanism for thinking, firmly rooted in the paranoid–schizoid position. The incel's relationship with women is shown to be characterised by a dependence on psychotic processes and defence mechanisms, and the article concludes with a discussion on the individual's relationship to the incel internet subculture as a basic assumption group. These interpretations are made with reference to examples taken from the transcript of a final video manifesto recorded by a notorious incel prior to his infamous act of fatal misogynistic violence.

Gruppe in COVID – COVID in Gruppe

Using the example of a sequence from an analytical group, the regression of the group to the protomentality of a basic assumption group according to Bion is shown. As the leader of this group, I was exposed to the regressed group‘s expectations of a narcissistic and/or paranoid leader. The task of group analysis, on the other hand, consisted in the leader and group living through the sometimes torturous processes on the way to a group in which everyone “can be different without fear” (Adorno) in the analysis process. This can be seen as the essence of democratic culture. Finally, in the face of fears of annihilation, the foundation matrix of this group sequence shows the collective regression to the commodity fiction, which is understood as the impulsive motive of the current social unconscious and in reality as the driving force behind deadly climate catastrophe.

Bion’s Basic Assumption Groups in the Regimen Treatment of Addictions: Clinical Implications

Bion’s Basic Assumption Groups in the Regimen Treatment of Addictions: Clinical Implications

Group relations conferences in China 2014 to 2019: theory and dynamics

This is a longitudinal inquiry into the theory and dynamics of four group relations conferences in China from 2014 to 2019. The study triangulates field notes, document artefacts, and verbatim transcribed interviews to investigate the application of Wilfred Bion's basic assumption (BA) group theory in the context of temporary learning institutions devoted to the examination of authority, leadership, and conscious/unconscious processes in groups. Given that group relations theory and practice in the Tavistock tradition is grounded in psychoanalysis and open systems theory, the study integrates psychoanalytic and psychodynamic systems theory in the analysis and interpretation of conference dynamics. The study concludes that group relations has important implications for psychoanalysis in China in light of: 1) the "psycho boom" in contemporary China; 2) the possibilities of cross-cultural learning and knowledge transfer; 3) cross-cultural trust building; 4) professional development of human services, mental health, and organisational development professionals; and 5) the application of psychoanalytical theory and practices to the understanding of organisational development in China.

The Group's Vulnerability to Disaster: Basic Assumption and Work Group Mentalities Underlying Trump's 2016 Election

ABSTRACTDonald Trump’s improbable political rise and unexpected capture of the US presidency during the 2016 presidential election is framed within Wilfred Bion’s (1961) theory of groups. Bion’s concepts of basic assumption phenomena, the group as a part-object mother’s body, the function of specialized work groups, and the roles of introjective and projective identification are explored and elaborated upon in the context of the relation between Trump and his supporters and detractors. Basic assumption phenomena were activated in both groups as each defended against psychotic anxieties tied to work group activity and other threatening aspects of group experience. Trump-as-leader emerged through a neglect of projective identification due to both supporters’ and detractors’ regressive and dissociative tendencies as they relate predominantly to pairing group activity.

Регресија у групи и организацији и корпоративна безбедност

This paper examines the occurrence of a group and organization regression by using Bion's group theory that distinguishes two forms of group functioning, as a work group and as a basic assumption group. The effects of a group and organization regression on corporate security are very negative and, therefore, knowledge of this phenomenon is important for the timely recognition and prevention of its development, as well as for intervention in reinvestment in the functioning of the working group. By looking more closely at the specificity and context in which Bion's theory originated, and the basic tenets of the theory, we came to indicators that differentiate between these forms of group functioning, namely: cooperation, maintaining contact with reality, openness in speaking up opinions, task motivation. If the listed indicators are present, we are dealing with the functioning of the working group, and if there is a doubt that the basic assumptions group is active.

Homelessness in the mind

In this article, I am going to present several related, themes, based on data gathered from years of consulting to homelessness services, particularly staff and management working in the voluntary sector, who are responsible for the teams that deliver care to some of the most vulnerable and challenging individuals in society. The three concepts that I will put forward are as follows: firstly, the idea that there is a fundamental human concern, or state, regarding homelessness. What I will refer to as 'homelessness in the mind'. I will consider this from psychoanalytic and systems-psychodynamic viewpoints and explore the idea of an internalised homeless state and the structures which attempt to contain it. Second, is an almost universal hatred and repulsion of this state and a need for its expulsion and relocation, in phantasy, into individuals and services associated with the homeless population. Next, I will link the concept of homelessness in the mind with Bion’s idea of sophisticated/specialised basic assumption groups; groups, budded off from mainstream society to contain specific psychological aspects of the population. I will suggest that the associated psychological stressors and pressures of homelessness, and ‘homelessness in the mind’ and its subdivisions, dependency and shame, relate to aggressive and violent elements associated with the inability to correctly process, engage with, or contain, specific internal states related to homelessness. Throughout, I will refer to my practice as an organisational consultant, and my experience of working with managers and teams who work with the homeless population.

Beam Me Up, Scotty! David Hume, Group Psychotherapy, and the Star Trek Basic Assumption Group

Beam Me Up, Scotty! David Hume, Group Psychotherapy, and the Star Trek Basic Assumption Group

Sala de aula e teceduras subjetivas

O propósito deste artigo é pensar a tarefa docente tendo como foco as vicissitudes a que a relação docente-discente está submetida e as quais desviam alunos e professores dos ideais de ordem e de harmonia. Com o objetivo de analisar os fluxos intersubjetivos em sala de aula, abordam-se aspectos da psicodinâmica grupal com o uso das noções psicanalíticas de grupo de suposto básico e de identificação projetiva. Com esse procedimento, pretende-se ao mesmo tempo sondar até que ponto noções eficazes na clínica psicanalítica podem ser úteis para analisar e elaborar situações pertencentes ao campo da Educação, em particular, à sala de aula concebida aqui como espaço de produção de intercorrências psíquicas. Procura-se pensar o espaço intersubjetivo segundo uma lógica que considere a criação de uma terceiridade no ensinar e aprender. Introduz-se a noção de "terceira voz" (Ogden) para indicar a criação e recriação do outro intersubjetivo, que faz da atividade docente uma experiência geradora de turbulência emocional com efeitos diversos nas constituições subjetivas. O enrijecimento identitário, com o concomitante desdém e intolerância à diferença, pode ser uma forma de reagir àquilo que escapa ao controle e à previsibilidade e que enfraquece desse modo os movimentos transformacionais implicados no processo de aprendizagem.

Leadership in small groups: Syncretic sociality and the genius loci

Freud presupposed that the group has one leader and only one. The Freudian view was that for the members of the group the group leader fills the role of the superego ideal. Bion, on the other hand, makes a distinction between ‘work-group mentality’ and ‘primitive mentality’. Each of these two mentalities at work in the group has its own corresponding leader. The head of the work group is an operative leader, a leader of thought. The head of the basic-assumption group embodies and expresses regressive, uncontrollable negative drives. This leader's individuality is peculiarly susceptible to obliteration by the basic-assumption group's leadership requirements. I have chosen to give the name of genius loci to a third figure who fosters the group members’ sense of belonging and identity, encourages participation and sharing, and manages to grasp the affective tonality of what is happening in the group. In the small analytic group the genius loci refers to a figure analogous to a leader, working with, in opposition to or alongside the work-group leader.

Leadership Development From A Systems Psychodynamic Consultancy Stance

This research aims to measure the impact of a leadership development programme presented from the systems psychodynamic stance. The aim was to develop psychoanalytically informed change leaders to lead change and transformation in the continuously changing and transforming New Economy network organisation. In order to do this, a group relations training programme was presented for 30 leaders. Qualitative assessment using grounded theory during post-intervention focus groups interviewing indicated the group’s awareness of psychodynamic leadership behaviour such as the regression towards frequent pathological leadership personality characteristics, regression towards unconscious group- and organizational processes such as the basic assumption group, the covert coalition and socially structured defense systems against change and transformation. Insight was also gained in the new leadership role and the taking up of personal authority in the network organisation that needs to function as a systemic whole. Limitations in the study are noted and Recommendations are made to enhance change leader skills for leadership in the New Economy network organisation. OpsommingHierdie navorsing poog om die impak van ‘n leierskapsontwikkelingsprogram wat aangebied is vanuit die sistemiese psigodinamiese perspektief, te evalueer. Die doel was om psigoanalitiese ingeligte leiers te ontwikkel om verandering en transformasie in die gedurige veranderende en transformerende Nuwe Ekonomie netwerk organisasie, te lei. Ten einde dit te bolwerk is. ‘n Groep -verhoudinge-opleidingsprogram is aangebied vir 30 leiers. Kwalitatiewe evaluasie deur van begrondingsteorie gebruik te maak gedurende, die post-intervensie fokus groepe het ‘n groepbewustheid aangedui van psigodinamiese leierskapgedrag soos die regressie na dikwelse patologiese leierskapspersoonlikheidskenmerke, regressie in onbewustelike groep- en organisatoriese prosesse soos die basiese aanname-groep, die koverte-koalisie- en sosiaal-gestruktureerde-verdedigingsisteme teen verandering en transformasie. Insig is ook in die nuwe leierskap rol en die opneem van persoonlike outoriteit in die netwerk organisasie wat moet funksioneer as ‘n sistemiese geheel, bekom. Aanbevelings word gemaak om die leierskapsrol in verandering in terme van vaardighede in die Nuwe Ekonomienetwerkorganisasie, te bevorder.

Fantasies and Fairy Tales in Groups and Organizations: Bion's Basic Assumptions and the Deep Roles

Little is known about the psychological processes that constitute roles in groups and organizations. Over the last years, however, organizational psychology has demonstrated that unconsciously some people are likely to be pushed into certain social and organizational roles. This article claims that roles found in ordinary folk tales also arise in organizations. From the Bionic concept of organizational basic assumptions, deep roles emerge. Someone in the group becomes ‘;king’;, another ‘devil’, a third ‘clown’, a fourth ‘witch’, etc. Fourteen such deep roles, divided into good and bad, are proposed and their correspondences to each of Bion's three basic assumption groups (dependency, fight-flight, and pairing) are introduced as an expansion of Bion's original theory. This expanded theory is compared to Argyris' and Schön's model for organizational functioning, and it is envisioned that psychoanalytic role theory will be of increased relevance for the understanding of work and organizational life.

Ego and Self in the Group

The psychodynamic concepts of ego and Self are interwoven with group phenomena in a number of ways. Even though ego/Self are at an opposite pole to group, they are also what makes up the group, and are in need of the group for attaining their fullest state. The group may also be viewed as having the character and quality of an ego/Self, albeit at a new level of conceptualization, as an entity in its own right. Understanding ego and Self as representing different experiential modes of the subject's relatedness to his or her object enables us to better understand ego and Self in the group, and can help account more fully for the different atmospheres that prevail in the Work Group as compared to the Basic Assumption Group. Such an understanding is in turn greatly facilitated by viewing experiences in groups through the experiential modalities of Being and Doing, which are embedded in the dimension of merger versus separateness of Self and object.

Captains and Cricket Teams: Therapists and Groups

The author describes W.R. Bion's concept of basic assumption groups, giving examples of such functioning in cricket teams. He compares and contrasts the roles of (group) therapist and team leader, addressing in particular the means each has at his or her disposal for effecting change by lessening basic assumption activity.

The Behavior and Personality of Work Group and Basic Assumption Group Members

The purpose of this study was to examine andpredict individual workand nonwork behavior in groups, based on the personality of the individual. Personality was defined in terms of Bales 's SYMLOG character types. Work and nonwork behavior were conceptualized in terms of the Bion work group and basic assumption groups. Intelligence and gender were used as control variables. It was expected that group members observed to be task oriented and emotionally controlled, in SYMLOG terms, would be in a work group mode. The subjects in the study were participants in four academic self-study groups. Factor analysis was used to create scales describing work and nonwork activity. Scores on these scales were correlated with scores generated from SYMLOG Observations, SYMLOG Retrospective Ratings, the Culture Fair Intelligence Test, and the gender of the participants. The results of this study strongly supported the hypothesis that there is a positive relationship between work activity as defined by Bion and the SYMLOG character type of task orientation/emotional control. There were also a number of significant relationships between the various basic assumption groups modes and other SYMLOG dimensions. These results suggest that it is possible to systematically code and predict work and nonwork activity in groups based on the personality of the individuals involved. Implications forfurther research are explored.

Rational work and basic assumption life in a psychotherapy group for preschool victims of abuse: A case study

Through a case study of a psychotherapy group with physically and sexually abused preschool children, this paper portrays the operation of rational work and basic assumption group life in child group psychotherapy. The paper argues two points contrary to assumptions of more adult-oriented writers: 1) children do engage in work group behavior, but in forms determined by developmental capacities, and 2) developmentally appropriate and defensive basic assumption group behaviors must be distinguished from one another. After describing the group, the paper articulates conditions necessary for implementing this theoretical perspective. Clinical vignettes are then presented as examples of both work group and basic assumption group functioning. Emphasis is placed on how this group treatment can assist a return to normal developmental lines.

A Study of Bion's Basic Assumption Groups

Bion's group dynamic theory can be divided into a general group dynamic part, a description of the basic assumptions fight/flight, dependency and pairing, and a metapsychological explanation of the basic assumption phenomena. Previous studies with somewhat questionable methodology have found that the basic assumption pairing seems more closely associated with fight/flight than dependency. This study replicates these findings. Seventyfive inpatient group therapy sessions were studied in detail by Group Emotionality Rating System and Group Focal Conflict Analysis. The phenomenological part of the study suggests quantitative levels when scattered emotional statements turn into manifest basic assumption. The groups demonstrating the association between pairing andfight/flight contained emotionality beyond these levels, thus indicating that they represented "true" basic assumption groups. Several observations suggest that the capacity for pairing is vitalfor the survival of fight/flight groups which otherwise risk the fate of disintegration. These observations call for new metapsychological explanations.

The Mythic Structure of Bion's Groups

Despite its continuing influence, Bion's theory of small groups remains obscure. This paper hypothesizes that his basic assumption groups are shared fantasies, explicated by certain widespread societal myths and by recent studies of religious symbolism. The dependency group is homologous to the myth of the primordial earthly paradise and the dependency fight-flight group to three mythical versions of the fall of man. Similar to all sacred symbolisms, the basic assumption groups synthesize the members' images of the group with certain emotional states, give philosophical meaning to the existential crises through which the group must pass, and interpret and shape the ongoing working group.

Observations in a group of psychiatric residents: A case study

Even in the absence of any formal group therapy or group training, many emotional and behavioral phenomena in a class of trainees can be conceptualized in group dynamic terms. Bion's model of work group versus basic assumption group is used as the theoretical frame of reference for the case studied. Behavior that does not seem conducive to the task of the trainees' group can be related to underlying emotional states of the group. Group dynamic concepts not only help in understanding group members' activities, but can also serve to develop a functional description of the chief resident's role as group leader.

Group: The More Primitive Psychology?: A Review of Some Paradigms in Group Dynamics

Comment is made on the concept of “paradigm” in contrast with the attitude of mind implicit in Husserl's “phenomenological reduction”. Merleau-Ponty's development of Husserl's phenomenology brings into focus our intersubjective enmeshment with a shared world, a view denied by traditional emphasis on individuality and objectivity. An outline of the origins of group life and individual valency is sketched by consideration of child development and object-relations theory, broadened by the insights of R. D. Laing. W. R. Bion's formulations on the work and basic assumption groups are seen as a description of the group expression of primal patterns of instinctual life. R. Schindler of Vienna has distinguished pre-group from group and has described the binding power of the group's opponent (G) function. His description of fixated group positions represents a sophistication of the ethological concept of pecking-order. This institutionalization is seen as a step in the formation, maturation and decay of a group's structure. Some interrelation is seen between Bion's and Schindler's ideas. The relevance of these dynamic models of the natural history of groups to interpretative technique is discussed, leading to a consideration of H. Ezriel's analysis of the common group tension into required, avoided and calamitous relationships.