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Theory on Stages in Group Development
(Basic Concerns of Any Group)
cf.: Group Dilemmas- Adaptive Challenges of Group Life
Source: Adapted from The Planning of Changes, by Bennis, Benne,
and Chin (Eds.), 1962.
See also "A theory of Group Development"
by Bennis and Shepard in Human Relations, Vol 9, 4, 1965, pp 415-457
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Stage I: Dependence |
Stage II - Interdependence |
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| Issue | Authority Relations | Personal Relations | ||||
| Problem | Distribution of Power | Degree of Intimacy | ||||
| Question | Who is boss? | "Who are we?" | ||||
| Substage 1 Submission (Dependence / Flight) |
Substage 2 Rebellion (Counterdependence / Flight) |
Substage 3 Resolution-Catharsis |
Substage 4 Enchantment (Overpersonal/Flight) |
Substage 5 Disenchangment (Counterpersonal/Flight) |
Substage 6 Consensus (Validation) |
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| Emotion | Dependence on designated leader: "Is it OK to smoke here?" | Distrust of designated leader: "Are the trainers members of the group?" | Pairing and intense involvement in group task: "I'm with you, Horace." | Pairing; group becomes an icon/ "You and I are alike, Horace" | Distrust, anxiety, suspicion, ambivalence. "Why do you always change the subject?" | Freedom, understanding, acceptance, pairing. |
| Content | Flight to back-home situations | Discussion of group organization: "Should we elect someone chairman?" | Discussion and definition of leader's role: "Exactly what is a trainer supposed to do?" | Salutary discussion of group history: "It's the best group I've ever known." | purpose, nature, and dangers of a group: "We're right back where we started from." | Discussion and assessment of member roles: "I need feedback; I even want it." |
| Roles | Assertive members with previous group expereince: "I've been to several institutes before" | Counterdependents distrust designated leader: I
don't care whether the trainers stay or go." Dependents voice need for designated leader: "some of us need more help from the trainers." Less assertive dependents and independents withdrawal. |
Assertive independents: "There are other courses of action open to us." | Everyone participates for the
first time. Over-personals very vocal: "We're all joining now." |
Most assertive counterpersonals:
"I don't have any hair to let down." Assertive overpersonals "We simply must shed our masks." |
Assertive independents: "OK, Horace, here's a bit of feedback." |
| Structure | Subgroups based on past experience: "And where did you go to college?" | Two tight sub-cliques on dominant role basis: "Don't we all agree on this procedure?" | Unity in pursuit of goal; functional leadership: "Let's go ahead now, full steam." | Solidarity, fusion, camaraderie: "I have no animosity towards anyone." | Sub-cliques; competition on role basis: "You're assuming consensus." | Substances rather than emotional: "We've made three decisions in 5 minutes." |
| Activity | Self-consciousness usual in new groups: "We haven't introduced ourselves yet." | Search for consensus mechanism and topics" "Let's vote on which subject to discuss." | members take over leadership functions" We're all participant-observers." | Laughter, joking, planning activities: "We could all go out for supper together." | Discouragement, tardiness, disparagement: "There's no concern for people here." | Acceptance of group behavior, actions,
reactions; Sharing awareness of member functions: "There's a real tension here; let's face it." |
| Movement | Abnegation of expected role by designated leader: "I have no items for the agenda." | Sub-groups form to ward off uncertainty: "Let's form our own group." | Revolt of independents fuses sub-groups: "Are you going to give us instructions, or not?" | Independents derive some effective controls: "Let's look at what we're doing." | Abnegation of further group involvement: "Let's take a short break." | External realities, group termination: "This isn't paradise, but it's real." |
Ashley Guberman, Organizational Development Resources