Developmental Arrestations in Self-Analytic Groups

In Part 1 we set out to determine if arrestations in group development occur at all, and, if so, what kind of arrestations might be identified. To this end, we observed five self-analytic groups using six developmental indices. Although the results are promising, diagnosis of developmental arrestations is not yet satisfactory and requires closer examination. In Part 2, the theoretical model is extended by relating it to the process of role differentiation. This extension rests on the assumption that enactors of major roles in training groups are, in fact, proponents of various group options, composing the four main problems. Four major roles are differentiated: dependency leader, disciplinarian, conciliator, and nonconformer. These are assumed to be central in different developmental stages. Arrestational diagnoses from present and previous data (Part 1) are compared. The theoretical model enables us to establish points at which group development becomes arrested. Changes in theoretical expectations are derived from the model.