Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1977

Thesis Director

William G. Kirk

Abstract

The utilization of group procedures has mushroomed in the past ten years. While developing in part from group psychotherapy, involvement in groups has become a movement in its own right. Encounter groups, marathons or other intensive group experiences are no longer seen as a "second-best" treatment but a useful technique to be added to the tools of the psychotherapist. However, the rapid development of these treatments have often exceeded a strong theoretical rationale and the negative consequences have become increasingly evident. Preparation for individual therapies has been shown to be one method for improving outcomes and avoiding undesirable consequences. However, there is little research utilizing a preparation for encounter groups. The purpose of this study was to formulate and test the effects of a pre-marathon group preparation strategy on encounter group participants. Sixteen subjects were assigned to two randomly selected experimental treatments, one receiving an encounter group experience with a pregroup preparation and one participating in a group experience without such a preparation. In addition, two control groups were utilized, one receiving a posttest only and the other a pre and posttest. Criterion instruments were the Personality Orientation Inventory and the Lieberman, Yalom and Miles (1973) Attitude Questionnaire. The pregroup preparation lasted approximately 50 minutes and was didactic in nature. The purposes, stages, history and research in the area of encounter groups were presented. Encounter groups lasted 7 hours, were Gestalt in orientation and were facilitated by an experienced group leader. The hypothesis that the pregroup preparation strategy would enhance the encounter group experience was not upheld. Results indicated that the preparation did not improve the encounter group experience as measured by the Personality Orientation Inventory and the Attitude Questionnaire. However, the data does suggest that a brief, intensive group experience is a useful behavioral change mechanism. Several methodological limitations were noted in this study. These included the small number of subjects, lack of random assignment to groups and an observed practice effect on the Attitude Questionnaire. Suggestions for future research included a pooling of data from multiple groups, experimental manipulation of the pregroup preparation and utilization of more extensive psychological instruments.

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