My study was conducted to provide a deeper understanding of the identity of employee soldiers in the armed forces and their experience of their role in the military context. To describe and identify the soldier's identity formation, values and norms working in group processes are taken into account. As the individual identifies her or himself whit the group, the various phenomena as hostility to other military groups arise. The individuals weld together with other group members to form strong normative relationships within the group. Through a qualitative research approach eight soldiers in a regiment in western Sweden were interviewed, four of them were group executives or deputy group leaders and others were ordinary soldiers. The interviews were interpreted based on the symbolic interactionistic theory; Mead and Goffman. The results of this study indicate that soldiers are working largely based on non-monetary reasons and that varied tasks, the salary and career are do not primarily matters. The team spirit is strong, contrary to the perceived problems of the military organization. Despite a lot of commuting to and from their daily lives, the soldiers see their job as very important and stimulating. The respondents appear to such a great extent be shaped by their work situation that this noticeably affects them in their civilian identity work.

This case study finds two modes in adults transformative learning experience. These modes create different openings for learning and conditions to be facilitated. A group of 23 adultlearners and the environment from a University course on organizational counseling, coaching and leadership provided its research site. Data from subjective, collective and interactive spaces in the course illuminate what conditions facilitate transformative learning processes. Field observations, interviews and documents from all parts of the course were analyzed using the computer software Nvivo. Conditions for transformative processes are found in the learner-experience relationships, the premises of a comfort zone, teacher-student and group constellations and are discussed in relation to considerations for their development. Commonalities are found in how to facilitate two phases of a learning experience in these conditions: Passive modes of learning can be facilitated by helping an individuals or groups extract meaning and express these meanings from his/their experience. Being exposed to the meaning environments of others can also have facilitating effects. Active modes of learning can be facilitated by helping an individual or group keep his/their attention directed towards the processes he/they are involved in. Holding attention directed over time towards the process and seeing the processes through a variety of different lenses and frames of thought helps integrate the learning and sustain its impact.

This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological research approach (Moustakas, 1994) to examine the question How do group psychotherapy clients experience post-processing? The conceptual framework for the study was Yalom’s interpersonal process approach to group psychotherapy (Yalom & Leszcz, 2005). Participants were 12 university counseling center clients who were members of an interpersonal process-oriented psychotherapy group at a large urban university. Data collection consisted of in-depth interviews. Data analysis procedures followed recommendations by Smith and Osborn (2003) and Creswell (2007). In order to increase the trustworthiness and rigor of the study, the researcher engaged in reflexive journaling, member checking, and the use of two external auditors. Results of the study are presented as a description of how participants experienced post-processing, and are organized within two domains: (a) Experiences of post-processing; and (b) Contextual pieces. Within the first domain, eight categories emerged: (a) verbal report card; (b) silent observer phenomenon; (c) leader expertise; (d) emotional homework; (e) light bulb moments; (f) validation and reinforcement; (g) connections; and (h) final chapter experiences. Categories were made up of one or more related themes. Within the second domain were four related themes: (a) intensity or depth; (b) outside stressors; (c) group constellation; and (d) time in group. Quotes from participants are included to illustrate the findings. The role of the researcher as an instrument in the study is described. The results are discussed in relation to the theoretical framework of the study and the existing literature. Implications for research and practice of group psychotherapy are identified. Strengths and weaknesses of the study are included, as well as suggestion for future research.

This article investigates the complex interrelation between ethnic and gender diversity, process and performance among groups of business students. The article is based on an empirical survey of business students working on a complex assignment in groups of two to five in a small Swedish university. The results indicate that gender diversity leads to positive group outcomes, while ethnic diversity appears to create negative group outcomes. Intervening process variables, such as group communication, conflict and effectiveness in problem solving, were not found to be influenced by diversity, or to influence group outcomes. While the non-influence of intervening variables can probably be explained by methodological difficulties, the negative outcome for ethnic diversity indicates a need to help students better manage ethnic diversity in order to reap its benefits.

Drawing upon the Communities of Innovation (COI) framework, this study seeks to identify the composition (functional demographic diversity), team climate (vision, participatory safety, task orientation, support for innovation), and process (group reflection, group flow, group conflict, dynamic expertise) variables that influence team-level innovation. Using data from 15 business school teams enrolled in a class on innovation and entrepreneurship, I explore the extent to which the proposed composition, team climate, and process variables discriminate between high-ranking and low-ranking innovative teams. I also investigate the degree to which these variables are conceptually and empirically distinct. Given the relative importance of dynamic expertise as a group process, I seek to answer how dynamic expertise is fostered in COIs. Finally, this study seeks to answer the degree to which the proposed composition, team climate, and process variables influence team level innovation. I found significantly greater levels of vision, participatory safety, support for innovation, group reflection, group flow, and dynamic expertise and significantly lower levels of group conflict in high-ranking innovative teams. No significant differences in levels of task orientation and functional diversity existed. Furthermore, the identified COI elements, particularly the team climate measures, are moderately correlated, suggesting that some elements of the COI are not empirically distinct. I found dynamic expertise to be of particular importance to COIs, and demonstrated that a supportive environment and group flow are particularly important to its development. Finally, results from a multinomial logistic regression model showed that support for innovation, group flow, and dynamic expertise were positively associated with the likelihood of being in a high-ranking innovative team. Implications for the COI framework are discussed.

Quando alunos, convocados pelo professor, se reúnem em grupos numa sala de aula, inicia-se uma construção de relações interpessoais, envolvendo alunos e professor, que influenciam fortemente o processo grupal. O foco do nosso trabalho está neste processo, ou seja, em como um grupo de ensino-aprendizagem produz ou não seus resultados em sala de aula. Procuramos investigar questões do tipo: como e quando os grupos analisados funcionaram? Quais intervenções do professor favoreceram a aprendizagem? A pesquisa foi desenvolvida numa escola particular no interior de São Paulo, com alunos da 1ª série do Ensino Médio cujas aulas de Física foram marcadas pela constância de atividades em grupo em que o professor fazia uma série de intervenções (presencial, institucional e virtual) a fim de tornar o grupo mais operativo. Entre estas, consideramos significativa uma intervenção que consistiu em atribuições de funções (Líder, Anotador e Questionador) para cada um dos membros do grupo e que deveriam ser rotativas a cada atividade. O nosso trabalho consistiu na descrição dos episódios e na análise dos três grupos que compunham a classe investigada e encontramos resultados bem diferentes para cada um deles que foram caracterizados da seguinte maneira: o grupo 1, da dependência; o grupo 2 da resistência; grupo 3 da mudança. Utilizamos as concepções de grupos operativos de Pichon-Rivière, que focaliza a tarefa do grupo e o vinculo entre os membros como elementos essenciais do desenvolvimento grupal. Todo o processo tem na comunicação entre os membros do grupo o aspecto principal para atribuição de papéis (porta-voz, líder, bode expiatório e sabotador), os quais vão surgindo ao longo da tarefa e devem ser circular entre os atores. Quando estes estão estereotipados torna-se necessária a intervenção do professor que deve fazê-los circular, proporcionando mudanças que vão caracterizar a aprendizagem. O processo grupal é dividido em três etapas: a pré-tarefa, quando os alunos resistem à mudança; a tarefa, quando, por uma elaboração das ansiedades o grupo resolve atividade; e o projeto, que é o momento da criatividade e de uma projeção das suas atividades para além do \"aqui-agora\". / When the teacher invites students to form groups inside the classroom, interpersonal relationship is built among students and teacher which influences the group process. Our work is focused in this process, in how a learning group is able, or not, to achieve good results. Some of our questions were: how and when the analyzed groups worked well? Which of the teacher\'s interventions were significant to learning? The research was developed with High School students from a private school in the state of São Paulo. The Physics teacher used to ask them to work in groups and he intervened in order to make the group operative. A significant intervention was the one in which the teacher asked each member of the group to act as an specific role (leader, writer and questioner). For each new activity they should chance roles. In this work, we described the events, analyzed the three groups formed in the chosen classroom and we found out different results for each of them. We could named the groups this way: group 1, of dependency; group 2, of resistance; group 3, of change. We used some concepts of operative groups from Pichon-Rivière, which focus the task and the bond among the members as essential to the group development. For him, the communication is the main aspect of the process. The roles appear during the development of the task and the members should change them. When they do not change, it is necessary that the teacher intervenes to promote learning. The group process is divided into three stages: the pre-task, when students resist changes; the task, when the group solves their anxieties and develops the activity; the project, which is the moment of creativity.

Este estudo possui como objetivo compreender o processo de formação de grupo no âmbito do futebol profissional. Implicitamente, pretendemos, diante da rotina profissional dos dirigentes/comissão técnica/atletas, averiguar como um grupo é construído, sob o viés estrutural e organizacional, mas sobretudo, sob a ótica das condições psíquicas postas no processo de desenvolvimento grupal. Além de verificarmos o perfil das categorias de base, com foco no processo de transição dos atletas formados/produzidos ao profissional, procuramos analisar as relações vinculares estabelecidas, com ênfase no sistema de atribuição e assunção de papéis, e as consequências psíquicas dos processos de mudança. Partimos de uma revisão bibliográfica e estudo de campo envolvendo observações e entrevistas (25 jogadores, 12 integrantes de comissão técnica e 6 dirigentes) em três clubes profissionais do futebol brasileiro. Nosso processo de busca bibliográfica procedeu do acesso às bases de dados Scielo, Scopus, Pubmed e ao Sistema Integrado de Bibliotecas. Em capítulos específicos, realizamos também buscas em mídias jornalísticas esportivas, em acervo virtual. Tais procedimentos metodológicos, ao também orientarem-se pelo referencial teórico de Pichon-Rivière e Bleger, nos levaram a associar a investigação psicanalítica à social por meio da análise psicossocial, sociodinâmica e institucional dos grupos investigados. O futebol profissional é um fenômeno econômico e comércio extremamente rentável, que se movimenta pela circulação de jogadores, cuja modernidade e espetacularização mobilizam, mundialmente, milhares de aficionados, praticantes e profissionais. Institucionalmente, se apresenta como uma organização conservadora, excludente, fechada, de privação e controle. Como parte de um cotidiano norteado pela pressão por resultados e rotina de treinos desgastante, física e psicologicamente, a concentração esportiva se mostrou, na perspectiva dos processos grupais, importante, se ressignificada. Neste contexto, fica configurado nos atletas e comissão técnica o negligenciamento de sua subjetividade e poucas possibilidades de ingerência sobre o futuro profissional e satisfação de suas necessidades, fundamentos motivacionais das configurações vinculares que, por sua vez, assumem características específicas, principalmente pelas constantes mudanças que estão sujeitos. Tais mudanças, assim como a privação de vida social, sentimento de saudades da família, ambiente de vestiário, papel desempenhado pelo roupeiro e as atividades lúdicas, se apresentaram como importantes emergentes. A assimilação de diferentes papéis sociais desempenhados não se dá de maneira harmoniosa, pois vivenciar e circular por eles são motivos de conflito interno e desestabilização nas relações vinculares. Parte desta dificuldade se dá pela notória disputa por determinados papéis a serem desempenhados no grupo, sobretudo aqueles que oportunizarão a satisfação de se sentirem notados, importantes, reconhecidos, valorizados e úteis ao grupo. Embora tenhamos constatado alguns acontecimentos que denotam adaptação ativa à realidade, por se tratarem de realizações individualizadas e não elaboradas numa perspectiva grupal, além de estarem mais próximas de uma adaptação que satisfaça os interesses e pressupostos dos clubes e empresários, podem ocasionar uma ruptura ou estereotipia no grupo. O recorte teórico adotado se mostrou válido, pertinente e significativamente importante nesta pesquisa, pois entendemos que a psicologia social postulada por Pichon-Rivière e as leituras de seus seguidores, não só permitiram, como favoreceram, nossa pesquisa de campo, bem como nossas interpretações e análises / The objective of this study is to understand the process of group formation in professional soccer. More specifically, we intended to investigate how a group is built considering the psychological conditions of this process and given the professional routine of the backroom staff, directors, and athletes. This investigation was performed under a structural and organizational point of view. We checked the profile of the basis categories, focusing on the transitioning process that club-trained players pass through to become professional athletes. We also analyzed the established bonding relationships, emphasizing the system of role allocation and the psychological consequences of changing processes. We reviewed the literature and conducted a field study, which included observations and interviews (25 players, 12 members of the backroom staff, and 6 directors) in three Brazilian soccer clubs. During our bibliographic revision, we accessed the database of Scielo, Scopus, Pubmed and the Integrated Libraries System, besides several digital assets from sport media. Because the theoretical framework of Pichon-Rivière and Bleger was used to guide our methodological procedures, we associate the psychoanalytical research to the social research through a psychosocial, socio-dynamic and institutional analysis of the studied groups. Professional soccer is an economical phenomenon and a highly profitable market moved by the exchange of players. Moreover, soccers modernity and spectacularization attract thousands of fans, professional and amateur soccer players around the world. Institutionally, professional soccer is a conservative organization that excludes, deprives and exerts control. As part of a daily routine that is guided by pressure for results and physically and emotionally stressful trainings, the sportive concentration has shown to be important, as long as it assumes a new meaning. In this context, the negligence of the subjectivity of athletes and technic staffs is shaped, along with the few possibilities for intervention on their professional future and the satisfaction of their needs. These are motivational drivers of the bounding setups, which in turn, assume specific characteristics, mainly because of constant changes that they are subjected to. These changes, as well as social life deprivation, homesickness, the atmosphere of the dressing rooms, the role played by the kit man, and the ludic activities are important outcomes. Assuming different social roles is not done in a harmonious way, because experiencing these roles is reason for internal conflicts and destabilization of bounding relationships. Part of this difficulty is given to the notorious dispute for certain roles in the group, mainly those that may satisfy the need to be noticed, to feel important, recognized, valued, and useful for the group. Although we have noticed certain happenings that denote active adaptation to reality, because these are individual realizations and do not include a group perspective, besides being closer to an adaptation that satisfy the interest and presumptions of the clubs and businessmen, they can cause rupture or stereotype within the group. The adopted theoretical approach showed to be valid, relevant and significantly important in this research, because we understand that the social psychology postulated by Pichon-Rivière and his followers not only allowed, but in fact favored our field research, data interpretation and analyses

This study is about relocated students in the school. Research in this area is limited and the aim is to illuminate the area by listening to different people's voices that have been close to or involved in relocations. The study was made of a qualitative method and the collection of data was through interviews. A total of eight people were included in the study. The selected municipality is located in Sweden. The sample was head teachers, counselors, special educators, social services, relocated student and parent of a relocated student. In the results and analysis the weight were placed on the interviewees votes. Theoretical starting points were selected based on the results of the interviews. The theories used were Bachtin's theory regarding voices, Goffman's theory of stigma, group process and then also Schutz FIRO-model that is about the group's various phases, and Dewey's theory of school. Results from the study showed that relocating because of bullying was rare. An important factor in a successful relocation is the pupil's participation and that the class must be prepared for a new member into the group. Relocation is seen as a last resort and that all other resources should be exhausted before a decision about relocation becomes an option.

Role theory is generally presented as a way of describing human interactions. Role dynamics describes the psychosocial phenomenon in terms of the various roles and role components being played and actively manipulated as a part of interpersonal interactions. The concept of role offers a general unit of interaction involving a complex of behaviour, expectation, and overt or covert consensual agreement. Therefore, roles can be thought of as expectations one has about social behaviour and as functions or positions. Groups are fundamental to human behaviour - without them individuals would have great difficulty surviving. People thrive on the interdependent relationships they find in groups. In some groups you participate as a leader, while in others you assume the role of follower. In many ways, the groups you have chosen to join reflect your interests and what motivates you. Group dynamics refers to the interactions within a group that characterize the group. The dynamics of the group can be fostered through good leadership as well, and the processes involved are most effective when they facilitate the group toward meeting its goal. The concept of leadership is a central building block of the conventional wisdom of organization and management. The definition of leadership leads to a variety of possibilities, which leads to the conclusion that the definition of leadership should depend on the purposes to be Served by the definition. One complex definition that has evolved, delineates effective leadership as the interaction among members of a group that initiates and maintains improved expectations and the competence of the group to solve problems or to attain goals. A general weakness of higher education has been its inability or unwillingness to make constructive and consistent use of student leadership as an advocate for the institution. From the perspective of student leadership, the fact that student advocacy is rarely utilized to its full potential represents a significant missed opportunity among our nation's universities. If the potential for leadership among these students were systematically cultivated, a new and powerful voice could be created that would go far in helping universities explain their missions and needs to lawmakers, the media and the voting public. Little research has been reported on student organizations. Literature involving student organizations dealt with the role organizations play in student involvement and student development. Reported research on the use of organization development in university student organizations described new practices, programmes and techniques for working with student organizations but did not reflect attempts to measure the effectiveness of interventions. This research provides readers with additional opportunities to explore the characteristics of effective groups and leaders and the leadership process. It is intended to move student leaders beyond the theory of leadership and closer to the world of practice and application. The major objectives of the study are: 0 How effectively and autonomously do student councils function as groups at tertiary institutions and how prepared are the members of the student councils to assume the leadership role? Are there statistical significant differences between biographical variables and the variables of group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership? Is there a relationship between group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership? The research study is divided into a theoretical and empirical framework. Various aspects of role theory, groups and leadership outline the theoretical basis. The empirical study is carried out by way of a questionnaire and the data is analysed according to specific statistical methods. The empirical study was conducted amongst members of student councils at different tertiary institutions in South Africa. The major findings of the study supported the set of research objectives and were the following: Group effectiveness It has been determined that most student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population are aware of their mission, are satisfied with achieving their goals, take possession, communicate openly and honest with members and have clear roles and norms. Autonomy Most of the student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population have satisfactory autonomy regarding work methods, work scheduling and work criteria. Leadership Student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population are prepared to assume their leadership roles. Differences between biographical variables and group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership Perceivable differences between gender and leadership in the student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population exist but are of no statistical significance. The relationship between the subvariables of group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership It has been determined that there is a relationship between the subvariables of group effectiveness and autonomy. No practical statistic significance relationships have been determined between leadership and autonomy for the study population. Further research on leadership as a process of group dynamics is recommended. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.

Role theory is generally presented as a way of describing human interactions. Role dynamics describes the psychosocial phenomenon in terms of the various roles and role components being played and actively manipulated as a part of interpersonal interactions. The concept of role offers a general unit of interaction involving a complex of behaviour, expectation, and overt or covert consensual agreement. Therefore, roles can be thought of as expectations one has about social behaviour and as functions or positions. Groups are fundamental to human behaviour - without them individuals would have great difficulty surviving. People thrive on the interdependent relationships they find in groups. In some groups you participate as a leader, while in others you assume the role of follower. In many ways, the groups you have chosen to join reflect your interests and what motivates you. Group dynamics refers to the interactions within a group that characterize the group. The dynamics of the group can be fostered through good leadership as well, and the processes involved are most effective when they facilitate the group toward meeting its goal. The concept of leadership is a central building block of the conventional wisdom of organization and management. The definition of leadership leads to a variety of possibilities, which leads to the conclusion that the definition of leadership should depend on the purposes to be Served by the definition. One complex definition that has evolved, delineates effective leadership as the interaction among members of a group that initiates and maintains improved expectations and the competence of the group to solve problems or to attain goals. A general weakness of higher education has been its inability or unwillingness to make constructive and consistent use of student leadership as an advocate for the institution. From the perspective of student leadership, the fact that student advocacy is rarely utilized to its full potential represents a significant missed opportunity among our nation's universities. If the potential for leadership among these students were systematically cultivated, a new and powerful voice could be created that would go far in helping universities explain their missions and needs to lawmakers, the media and the voting public. Little research has been reported on student organizations. Literature involving student organizations dealt with the role organizations play in student involvement and student development. Reported research on the use of organization development in university student organizations described new practices, programmes and techniques for working with student organizations but did not reflect attempts to measure the effectiveness of interventions. This research provides readers with additional opportunities to explore the characteristics of effective groups and leaders and the leadership process. It is intended to move student leaders beyond the theory of leadership and closer to the world of practice and application. The major objectives of the study are: 0 How effectively and autonomously do student councils function as groups at tertiary institutions and how prepared are the members of the student councils to assume the leadership role? Are there statistical significant differences between biographical variables and the variables of group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership? Is there a relationship between group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership? The research study is divided into a theoretical and empirical framework. Various aspects of role theory, groups and leadership outline the theoretical basis. The empirical study is carried out by way of a questionnaire and the data is analysed according to specific statistical methods. The empirical study was conducted amongst members of student councils at different tertiary institutions in South Africa. The major findings of the study supported the set of research objectives and were the following: Group effectiveness It has been determined that most student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population are aware of their mission, are satisfied with achieving their goals, take possession, communicate openly and honest with members and have clear roles and norms. Autonomy Most of the student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population have satisfactory autonomy regarding work methods, work scheduling and work criteria. Leadership Student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population are prepared to assume their leadership roles. Differences between biographical variables and group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership Perceivable differences between gender and leadership in the student councils at tertiary institutions in the study population exist but are of no statistical significance. The relationship between the subvariables of group effectiveness, autonomy and leadership It has been determined that there is a relationship between the subvariables of group effectiveness and autonomy. No practical statistic significance relationships have been determined between leadership and autonomy for the study population. Further research on leadership as a process of group dynamics is recommended. / Thesis (M.A. (Industrial Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2004.