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Experiences in Groups by W. R. Bion
A classic study which, by synthesizing the approaches of psychoanalysis and group dynamics, has added a new dimension to the understanding of group phenomena.without this book for periodic re-reading (International Journal of Psycho-Analysis)psychologists but for all whose work involves association with others, whether in committees or major social institutions (British Book News)
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First published January 11, 1968
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 30, 2019
This was a PHENOMENAL work! I wish I had read this book as a high school student; it would have changed the nature of so many of my interactions.
Bion suggested that groups operate simultaneously in two strictly contrasting ways, based on distinctive mental states, which he called ‘basic-assumption mentality’ and ‘work-group mentality’. He believed that these mentalities determine a group’s capacity to achieve its purposes.
In Experiences in Groups, Bion developed a theoretical framework in which he proposed that groups operate in two, strictly contrasting ways. These he called, ‘work-group’ and ‘basic-assumption’ mentality and functioning. These terms refer to fundamental ways of thinking and feeling – or avoiding real thought and true feeling – which he believed determine the ability of group members to relate and to engage, both with each other and with the purpose for which the group has formed.
‘Work-group mentality’ (around page 173) describes the disposition and dynamics that characterize the life of a group, to the extent that its members are able to manage their shared tensions, anxieties and relationships, in order to function effectively; the outcome is a ‘capacity for realistic hard work’ (p. 157). ‘Basic-assumption mentality’ (p. 173), by contrast, describes the state of a group that is taken over by strong emotions – anxiety, fear, hate, love, hope, anger, guilt, depression (p. 166) – and has, as a result, lost touch with its purpose, and become caught up in an ‘unconscious group collusion’ (p. 359); the outcome is ‘stagnation’ (p. 128).
This group phenomenon is reminiscent of the way individuals can convince themselves of the need to clear their room or make a ‘to do’ list, before starting to work – as if only then can the ‘real work’ begin. However, they may never actually start the work, which the ‘clearing’ was intended to foster. In Bion’s terms, a group operating in this way is in the grip of basic-assumption mentality. Group members may be very active and may seem to be getting ‘work’ done, but they are no longer demonstrating ‘work-group’ mentality, precisely because the group has turned its back on its original purpose. Without realising it, they have shifted attention to an assumed, new purpose – although non-purpose, even anti-purpose, might be more accurate terms, because, as with the individual energetically clearing their clutter, apparent purposefulness masks the reality of an unconscious shift off-purpose.
Truly a awesome piece of literature.
Bion suggested that groups operate simultaneously in two strictly contrasting ways, based on distinctive mental states, which he called ‘basic-assumption mentality’ and ‘work-group mentality’. He believed that these mentalities determine a group’s capacity to achieve its purposes.
In Experiences in Groups, Bion developed a theoretical framework in which he proposed that groups operate in two, strictly contrasting ways. These he called, ‘work-group’ and ‘basic-assumption’ mentality and functioning. These terms refer to fundamental ways of thinking and feeling – or avoiding real thought and true feeling – which he believed determine the ability of group members to relate and to engage, both with each other and with the purpose for which the group has formed.
‘Work-group mentality’ (around page 173) describes the disposition and dynamics that characterize the life of a group, to the extent that its members are able to manage their shared tensions, anxieties and relationships, in order to function effectively; the outcome is a ‘capacity for realistic hard work’ (p. 157). ‘Basic-assumption mentality’ (p. 173), by contrast, describes the state of a group that is taken over by strong emotions – anxiety, fear, hate, love, hope, anger, guilt, depression (p. 166) – and has, as a result, lost touch with its purpose, and become caught up in an ‘unconscious group collusion’ (p. 359); the outcome is ‘stagnation’ (p. 128).
This group phenomenon is reminiscent of the way individuals can convince themselves of the need to clear their room or make a ‘to do’ list, before starting to work – as if only then can the ‘real work’ begin. However, they may never actually start the work, which the ‘clearing’ was intended to foster. In Bion’s terms, a group operating in this way is in the grip of basic-assumption mentality. Group members may be very active and may seem to be getting ‘work’ done, but they are no longer demonstrating ‘work-group’ mentality, precisely because the group has turned its back on its original purpose. Without realising it, they have shifted attention to an assumed, new purpose – although non-purpose, even anti-purpose, might be more accurate terms, because, as with the individual energetically clearing their clutter, apparent purposefulness masks the reality of an unconscious shift off-purpose.
Truly a awesome piece of literature.
November 17, 2017
Really great. It pushed me along, having to think just slightly harder and hold slightly more than was comfortable over and over, but enough to bear. So it felt like I was stuffed with milk after each paper, titled just with numerals in the weird maths-poetry way Bion has. A big string of really useful concepts unfolds over the course of the papers which constitute a whole model of group therapy. He also made me do a LOL when he says his technique of running group therapy is to make only interpretations that "seem to be concerned with matters of no importance to anyone but myself."
November 2, 2012
Fascinating book. Idiosyncratic approach and writing style makes the first part of the book very funny, but the underlying material is really interesting even if quite hard to grasp. The book is quite short and individual sentences and paragraphs are very readable, but having finished it once I immediately had to re-read it to try to work out what was really going on! I am glad I did and will no doubt have to read it a third (and fourth?) time at some point.
November 8, 2016
Perhaps the most important and influential work on the psychodynamics of groups. Bion's writing is clear and the way he is able to bring the reader into a group, and into his experience, is remarkable. This book is a must for anyone in the consulting field, and for managers, too. It will open your eyes.
August 5, 2022
I had such high expectations for this book but I must say it didn’t live up to them. Whether it was merely a bad translation (Danish) or the writing itself, I found the language rather inaccessible and the text itself repetitive.
January 28, 2024
A harder piece to read with its academic bent and heavily abstract language. But, I found out about Bion's work as an influence for swarths of leadership thinking in the 20th century and was curious to see what he wrote.
Bion goes into some thought-provoking observations on group dynamics. It points towards a few different core kinds of dysfunctional patterns - fight-flight (ex: a problem in the army), Dependent (ex: a problem in churches), and Pairing (ex: aristocratic power coupling) that are quite compelling as complications towards a working group.
I expected it to bend towards some kind of guidance for the reader, but it kept pretty heavily to observations with few conclusions. Bion is a surprising rare individual that tries to caution the reader about the substantiality (or lack thereof) of thoughts he has.
I mostly only ding the book because it was such a chore to read. The content itself was great.
Updated from 3-4, the more the content settles in, the more the excellence of material remains and the abstruse style fades.
Bion goes into some thought-provoking observations on group dynamics. It points towards a few different core kinds of dysfunctional patterns - fight-flight (ex: a problem in the army), Dependent (ex: a problem in churches), and Pairing (ex: aristocratic power coupling) that are quite compelling as complications towards a working group.
I expected it to bend towards some kind of guidance for the reader, but it kept pretty heavily to observations with few conclusions. Bion is a surprising rare individual that tries to caution the reader about the substantiality (or lack thereof) of thoughts he has.
I mostly only ding the book because it was such a chore to read. The content itself was great.
Updated from 3-4, the more the content settles in, the more the excellence of material remains and the abstruse style fades.
March 21, 2025
Some interesting concepts but written and presented in an unnecessarily convoluted way, 8 line sentences with lots of "academic" style of writing and several tangents in one point, could be much clearer and more concise.
August 16, 2016
Bion utiliza em seu livro uma linguagem que visa a levar o seu interlocutor a experimentar as dificuldades que giram em torno do tema 'grupos'.
O livro firma posição quanto à importância da vida em grupo para o funcionamento da psiquê individual. Assim, os grupos de suposição básica [basic assumption groups] são divididos em três: aquele que tem por base a dependência; o segundo que se pauta no 'emparelhamento' [pairing] e o último que funciona com base no padrão de luta e fuga [fight-flight].
Os grupos de suposição básica distinguem-se dos grupos de trabalho. Este é orientado pela realização da tarefa; aqueles, pela manutenção da existência do próprio grupo.
O livro está dividido em oito ensaios e um capítulo que realiza um resumo dos principais pontos abordados ali. A importância de Melanie Klein (ex-analista de Bion) e de Kurt Lewin é flagrante no texto, bem como as noções de valência e de processos latentes e abertos. Acima de tudo, a própria noção de experiência é recorrentemente colocada em perspectiva e assume um lugar central na escrita e nas interrogações de Bion.
A clínica que se revela na letra de Bion tem como um de seus objetivos 'desenvolver nos grupos forças que lentamente levariam à ativa cooperação'. Ainda quanto à concepção de grupo, é importante identicar as diferenças nas definições de 'mentalidade de grupo' e 'cultura de grupo'. A primeira significa a expressão da vontade do grupo; a segunda é o conflito entre o desejo individual e a mentalidade de grupo.
Bion, W. R. (2014). Experiences in groups: And other papers. London: Routledge.
O livro firma posição quanto à importância da vida em grupo para o funcionamento da psiquê individual. Assim, os grupos de suposição básica [basic assumption groups] são divididos em três: aquele que tem por base a dependência; o segundo que se pauta no 'emparelhamento' [pairing] e o último que funciona com base no padrão de luta e fuga [fight-flight].
Os grupos de suposição básica distinguem-se dos grupos de trabalho. Este é orientado pela realização da tarefa; aqueles, pela manutenção da existência do próprio grupo.
O livro está dividido em oito ensaios e um capítulo que realiza um resumo dos principais pontos abordados ali. A importância de Melanie Klein (ex-analista de Bion) e de Kurt Lewin é flagrante no texto, bem como as noções de valência e de processos latentes e abertos. Acima de tudo, a própria noção de experiência é recorrentemente colocada em perspectiva e assume um lugar central na escrita e nas interrogações de Bion.
A clínica que se revela na letra de Bion tem como um de seus objetivos 'desenvolver nos grupos forças que lentamente levariam à ativa cooperação'. Ainda quanto à concepção de grupo, é importante identicar as diferenças nas definições de 'mentalidade de grupo' e 'cultura de grupo'. A primeira significa a expressão da vontade do grupo; a segunda é o conflito entre o desejo individual e a mentalidade de grupo.
Bion, W. R. (2014). Experiences in groups: And other papers. London: Routledge.
December 28, 2019
Uno de los libros a los que más vuelvo en tanto teoría de grupos se refiere. Este fue un libro que volví a leer este año y que estoy segura que seguiré leyendo a lo largo de mi práctica grupal. Bion es uno de mis estudiosos de los fenómenos grupales favoritos porque es también de los pocos que va proponiendo sus conceptos teóricos en el análisis de su práctica clínica, y que como Freud, no se acerca a su objeto de estudio con un supuesto objetivismo falso sino que se toma a él mismo como parte del grupo y en el análisis de sus pensamientos y sentimientos va construyendo su cuerpo teórico.
Creo que las aportaciones de Bion son fundamentales para las posteriores propuestas teóricas de grupo-análisis y grupos operativos, y si no me equivoco, es de los primeros que toman el psicoanálisis como base para sus reflexiones y su investigación de los grupos y que va trazando las diferencias y particularidades entre los fenómenos psíquicos subjetivos de la clínica individual y los fenómenos propios grupales, así como también de la imposibilidad de trasponer la metodología psicoanalítica al trabajo con grupos.
Muchos de los conceptos que propone los vamos a encontrar después en la teoría de grupos operativos con Pichon-Riviere, pues los dos además toman de base las aportaciones de Klein.
En definitiva creo que es uno de esos libros para toda la vida para los amantes de los trabajos con grupos.
Creo que las aportaciones de Bion son fundamentales para las posteriores propuestas teóricas de grupo-análisis y grupos operativos, y si no me equivoco, es de los primeros que toman el psicoanálisis como base para sus reflexiones y su investigación de los grupos y que va trazando las diferencias y particularidades entre los fenómenos psíquicos subjetivos de la clínica individual y los fenómenos propios grupales, así como también de la imposibilidad de trasponer la metodología psicoanalítica al trabajo con grupos.
Muchos de los conceptos que propone los vamos a encontrar después en la teoría de grupos operativos con Pichon-Riviere, pues los dos además toman de base las aportaciones de Klein.
En definitiva creo que es uno de esos libros para toda la vida para los amantes de los trabajos con grupos.
November 21, 2016
Bion was een pionier in de groepsdynamica. Hij experimenteerde met groepssessies van neurotische patienten - een classificatie die is bedacht door Freud en niet in de DSM-5 voorkomt. In die sessies koos hij als sessieleider ervoor om ten behoeve van het onderzoek vaak een nare groepsrol in te nemen en die consequent vol te houden.
Een nadeel van dit boek is dat het concrete voorbeelden mist. Bion heeft het vaak over zijn interpretaties die door de groep worden genegeerd of niet aangenomen. Wat aan de interpretatie vooraf ging en wat hij letterlijk heeft gezegd schrijft hij niet. Hierdoor is het onmogelijk om zijn onderzoek over te doen.
Mijn conclusie: historisch gezien een interessant boek, een knap staaltje werk voor iemand die aan de wieg van het onderzoeksveld heeft gestaan. Maar naar huidige maatstaven volstrekt achterhaald en onwetenschappelijk.
Voor wie het onderwerp interessant vindt zijn er praktische alternatieven: J. Remmerswaal, Handboek Groepsdynamica, I. Yalom, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy en Ruth Cohn, Von Der Psychoanalyse Zur Themenzentrierten Interaktion. ..in die volgorde!
Een nadeel van dit boek is dat het concrete voorbeelden mist. Bion heeft het vaak over zijn interpretaties die door de groep worden genegeerd of niet aangenomen. Wat aan de interpretatie vooraf ging en wat hij letterlijk heeft gezegd schrijft hij niet. Hierdoor is het onmogelijk om zijn onderzoek over te doen.
Mijn conclusie: historisch gezien een interessant boek, een knap staaltje werk voor iemand die aan de wieg van het onderzoeksveld heeft gestaan. Maar naar huidige maatstaven volstrekt achterhaald en onwetenschappelijk.
Voor wie het onderwerp interessant vindt zijn er praktische alternatieven: J. Remmerswaal, Handboek Groepsdynamica, I. Yalom, The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy en Ruth Cohn, Von Der Psychoanalyse Zur Themenzentrierten Interaktion. ..in die volgorde!
January 8, 2010
I jotted down some notes from the first chapter or two, but after that it was difficult to follow what the author was doing and what his intentions were. I feel as though I am missing some background framework which would make his observations meaningful to me.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews