ON THE THEORY OF CHANGE RESULTING FROM GROUP THERAPY

Abstract

The end product of group therapy is change, but since life itself is never static, the essence of therapy is rapid change. But rapid change only in a desirable direction is therapeutic, therefore our definition includes the fact that the desideratum of group therapy is rapid ameliorative change. That such changes do occur in group therapy is well accepted; what we may now be interested in is the "what" and "why." What kinds of changes do occur and why do they occur? Dr. Gordon in his provocative paper attempts to answer both questions: people change in their perceptions towards themselves, towards others, and towards the world outside; and, these changes, Dr. Gordon tells us, occur as the result of the interaction between people in a therapeutic setting, especially the members of the group interacting with the therapist.