The group analytic approach to the unconscious

Journal/Book: Gruppenpsychother Gruppendyn. 1999; 35: Theaterstrasse 13, Postfach 77, W-37070 Gottingen, Germany. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. 188-202.

Abstract: As the founder of Group Analysis, S. H. FOULKES believed that by replacing free association by group association in the group, he had taken a ''decisive step not only in method, but also in theory''. In fact, he argued that by changing verbal communication in the group into a 'free floating group discussion' provided Group Analysis with a consistent method to get access to unconscious processes in groups; a method however that is different from classical Psychoanalysis. This thesis is outlined in the paper, stressing the overall importance of group communication as central to all dynamic and therapeutic pocesses in the group. The group analytic understanding of communication is being discussed, and in the closing section linked to J. LAPLANCHES term of the ''message'' resp. His term of an ''enigmatic signifier''. Insofar the paper intends a discussion of central theoretical conceptions underlying Foulkesian Group Analysis, no reference to empirical research is being made. Also no references are being made to the contributions of north american authors in the field, because outlining their positions would have been beyond the scope of the present paper.

Note: Article Nitzgen D, Kalchen 20, D-79379 Mullheim Baden, GERMANY

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