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Toward more effective groupwork. - One has come to realize that the effectiveness of the democratic society is determined by the effectiveness with which function its constituant parts. This realization brought the study of the so-called smaller groups to the foreground. The writings of K. Lewin and J. Moreno have inspired the social scientists to concern themselves with the study of the face to face group. These efforts have led to the emergence of the new field of group dynamics, which is gaining its own place in the social sciences somewhere at the crossroad of psychology and sociology. Training in this field is still in an experimental stage. The "National Training Laboratory in Group Development” in Washington organizes each year a three week training program in group dynamics in Bethel, Maine. The objective of the program is to increase the participants’ understanding of and sensitivity for group phenomena which lead ultimately to a change in individual behaviour in the light of the acquired insights. The basis of the experiment is the training group. Over a period of three weeks, the originally unstructured, non integrated and heterogeneous group, develops spontaneously and autonomously into a structured and cohesive workgroup, going through the different stages of group formation and tackling the different phases of problem solving. This common experience becomes the basis of observation, analysis and interpretation. The instructor assumes the role of resource person who may be called upon for assistance, primarily in matters of methodology. Other components of the program are the theory sessions which acquaint the participants with theoretical concepts and where tested hypo¬ theses are verbalized. There are also afternoon sessions which provide the members with an opportunity to try out some new attitudes and skills, whereas the community group is intended to facilitate informal exchange of ideas or to “blow off steam” if needed. The method is of the laboratory type. The participant is at the same time learner and experimentor and the data with which he works are drawn from his own experience. The setting is a “cultural island” away from the pressures, prejudices and conventions of day to day life. 309 The atmosphere is conducive to experimentation and self-analysis. It also aims at reducing the blocks hampering behavioural change. Although this program constitutes a positive and valuable contribution to the practice of human relations, the theoretical justification has not yet been fully established. Continued research and constant reappraisal should guide further developments.
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How to Cite: Van Acker, J. (1956) “Naar doelmatiger groepswerk: nieuwe aspekten in de studie van de menselijke betrekkingen”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen. 1(4). doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.95516