Evaluating a Large Group Awareness Training: A Longitudinal Study of Psychosocial Effects (Recent Research in Psychology) by Jeffrey D. Fisher

by Jeffrey D. Fisher

Large Group Awareness An Historical Context Groups associated with the human potential movement have been a controversial feature of American life during the last three decades. In the 1950's and 1960's, the movement was dominated by various types of small groups (SGs), which included sensitivity training groups, encounter groups, as well as several others (see Lieberman, Yalom, & Miles, 1973). Some people viewed SGs as an effective means for attaining personal and organizational growth, and Carl Rogers, one of the founders of this movement, labeled small groups as . . the most rapidly spreading social invention of the century, and probably the most potent" (Rogers, 1970). In contrast, others attacked SGs as "the most extreme exhibition thus far of man's talent for reducing, distorting, evading, and vulgarizing his own reality" (Koch, 1973, p. 639). Nevertheless, SGs generally became an accepted tool for personal development and were incorporated into university curricula and mana gerial training programs. During the 1970's the prevalence and appeal of SGs declined (cf. Back, 1978), and at about the same time, large group awareness training programs (LGATs) appeared. ' LGATs are offered to the general public by profit-making or ganizations and examine philosophical, psychological and ethical issues concern ing personal effectiveness, decision-making, personal responsibility and commit ment After addressing these topics, participants are encouraged to apply their recently attained insights to their lives."

Paperback

First published July 23, 1990

Reviews

[Marcus Parks · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important empirical finding on Large Group Awareness trainings. It's no small feat that this was done, considering doing this type of research is very difficult, as pointed out by the book's authors. I'm very interested to see what more recent data suggests. I imagine that's even harder to come by, considering that many of the LGATs have ceased to exist. But, there are still some around.